INTO MY FATHER’S ARMS I WAS BORN

Today marks the one-year anniversary of my father’s passing. The image of the wood carving by Quebec artist-sculptor Herman Raby is a representation of my birth. The woman in the picture is my mother, the man is my father, and the baby is me. The day my Mom gave birth to me, my Dad, who was the only OBGYN available at the hospital, delivered me. The strong bond that this created between my parents and me will last forever.

Mary Dawood Catlin’s birth,

by Herman Raby

Dr. Dawood Gorgui Dawood, 1938-2022

I miss you every day, Dad. Je t’aime, Papa.

HOPE

I DEDICATE HOPE TO MY PARENTS who were my guiding lights, to my husband who is my rock and who held me up in the valley of my most profound sorrow, and to our newborn baby girl. She is our greatest joy, the love of our lives, the HOPE for which we have been waiting, and the answer to our prayers.

‘HOPE’ AND MARY’S JOURNEY

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE MOVED BY IT. The piece is wonderful in that it really takes us from desolation to solace, to an epic buildup that could aptly be described as hope: finding the strength to rebuild ourselves after times of dismay and grief.” – --Emilio D.Miler, Grammy Award winning producer.

“HOPE is mesmerizing. Mary has managed to capture loss and heartache and the anticipation of new beginnings, the pain and joy of love itself. I love the driving melody that to me represents time marching along and bringing the past with it, heading

inevitably towards the future. It's genius. I also love how personal the project is, it grounds the work and connects it to your humanity which is amazingly vulnerable. Brava!”

– Madi Das, Grammy-nominated artist, musician, and producer

“Mary Dawood Catlin, a former piano student of mine at Ottawa University has found joy, happiness and pride being an active artist-musician-pianist. Her Musical Journey is a remarkable example of growth through Music in our modern world!!! Bravissima Mary, we are proud of you!”

– Jean Desmarais, Concert pianist and piano professor