MUSIC
Dawn McGee
Ambient, intuitive, and grounded in natural rhythms — her playing evokes the quiet power of Montana’s landscapes, with an emphasis on spacious phrasing, resonant tones, and emotional presence. Rather than rigid composition, Dawn favors an improvisational approach that allows for spontaneity and connection with the moment, often weaving in meditative pulses and harmonic layering that create a sense of journey or unfolding.
Stylistic influences include:
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Nature-inspired improvisation
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Contemplative soundscapes rooted in healing, breath, and stillness
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Grounds the group with tonal center and tempo
Steve Kalling
Steve Kalling is a seasoned upright bassist based in Missoula, MT, known for his soulful and grounded performances with the Steve Kalling Trio and BIGSKYLIGHT Music. His style draws from jazz, folk, and improvisational roots, anchoring the band's ambient soundscapes with warm, resonant low-end tones.
Highlights include:
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A deft ability to bridge genres—from contemplative jazz interludes to organic, nature-inspired improvisation
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A signature approach that melds nuanced rhythmic foundation with melodic sensibility, complementing handpan, string, and ambient textures in BIGSKYLIGHT's ensemble.
Caleb Yeats
Caleb “Neutrino” Yeatts is a gifted multi‑instrumentalist whose primary discipline is playing the handpan. He seamlessly blends haunting melodies with complex rhythmic patterns—straddling composed passages and pure improvisation .
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Atmospheric & Meditative: His playing often conjures a drifting, dreamlike soundscape—perfectly aligned with BIGSKYLIGHT’s ambient ethos.
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Rhythmically Intricate: Layering syncopated pulses beneath ethereal overtones, he creates both grounding structure and flowing movement.
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Compositional-Improv Balance: Caleb moves effortlessly between structured melodic lines and spontaneous, responsive playing.
Beth Youngblood
Beth Youngblood is an accomplished violinist with an expansive musical palette, now a key part of BIGSKYLIGHT’s ensemble.
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Beth has taught violin students of all ages for over 40 years.
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She directed the Montana Women’s Chorus of Missoula from 2007-2020 and believes that making music in community is deep medicine for the soul!
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As a performing musician, she is indebted to her eight years of touring with the Howard Hanger Jazz Fantasy, which provided a nurturing environment for her to develop as an improvising violinist.
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Playing with singer-songwriters Judy Fjell, Harmony Grisman, world music group Mandir, Bill Mize and the acoustic art trio Ouzel, and now Big Sky Light are highlights of her performing life.
Bethany Joyce
Bethany Joyce s a classically-trained cellist rooted in Missoula, MT, whose artistry spans traditional orchestral realms to adventurous, improvisational landscapes:
She is passionate about blending composition with spontaneous creativity — a hallmark of her collaborative style which comes through in her playing by
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Anchoring ambient soundscapes with warm, resonant cello tone
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Crafting emotive, weaving lines that enhance the band’s nature-inspired, meditative atmosphere
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Moving fluidly between supportive textures and lyrical solo passages