About the Author
Teacher, musician, singer, and author,
Michelle’s passion for the lyre is bringing this instrument back
into the foreground of modern memory.
The story of
Michelle Forbes
Michelle Forbes’ passion for both writing and music began at a young age. She began writing stories, poems, and songs as a young teenager, and started her musical journey playing the piano when she was just starting elementary school.
Her musical journey included playing the flute, brass instruments, and the guitar. She took the guitar while travelling the world, teaching English, singing with her students, and immersing them in the wonders of music and creating their own stories and songs.
Michelle’s passion for teaching and music lead her to become an elementary school music teacher, teaching a variety of instruments, including the ukulele, Orff instruments, drums, and percussion instruments.
After moving to Kimberley, BC, Canada, she decided to create something for families in the small mountain town, where she created and ran The Kimberley City Bakery Medieval Festival, which won her numerous awards, and was featured on National and International television. And, more importantly, it introduced her to the lyre.
At her 2018 Medieval Festival, she was gifted her own lyre, starting her lyre journey, scouring the internet and all sources she could find to gather information about the lyre.
After seeing her child playing the lyre, Michelle realized that this was truly the easiest instrument to learn, and she decided that she would make it her goal to make it accessible to everyone.
The Lyre Book is the first book that she has written about the lyre to introduce people to the lyre and how to play it. She also has created online courses to help introduce people to this fascinating instrument.
Storyline
- 2012
Orff Music Training
- 2013
Bought a 100 year old bakery and moved to the mountains
- 2014
Received Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Bakery
- 2015
Received Business of the Year Award for the Bakery
- 2015-2018
Created and Ran The Kimberley Medieval Festival (AKA The Kimberley City Bakery Medieval Festival)
- 2017
Received awards for: Tourism Excellence Award for the Kimberley City Bakery Medieval Festival, Jake the Baker Award for The Best Bakery in Canada, and Woman of the Year Award
- 2018
Received Arts and Culture Award for the Kimberley City Bakery Medieval Festival, published my first book: Viking Lullaby, and received my first lyre
- 2019
Recorded and released first single, Viking Lullaby
- 2020
Sold the bakery, and moved back to the city
- Today
Teaching elementary school music, releasing the first book and online courses about the lyre and how to play it, to help bring this fascinating instrument to as many people as possible
