2022 Year in Review: From Radio City to Madison Square Garden

Happy New Year!

At the beginning of 2022, I had a lot of hopes for what it might bring. The world never had that full "restart" we all so desperately wanted after COVID hit, so each and every new adventure always had a sprinkling of "what-ifs." What if they cancel this before it happens? What if I get COVID before this big opportunity? What if this is the last big thing and everything stops again?

This might have been the driving force that pushed me to take on any and every adventure this year, but about halfway through, I had to step back and acknowledge just how burnt out I was. In fact, I spoke about it openly with many friends and family members and came to find this: they were all burnt out too.

2022 was the year of diving back in, and since both years prior had been such hardships on all of us, I think we all went for it with everything we had, just in case those what-ifs became true. For me, this year completely blew every one of my expectations out of the water. I sang at Radio City with Josh Groban (again!), traveled to Florida, New York, Massachusetts, and Maine--all for performing! I was even flown as a special guest to Switzerland to sing and play the guitar for 1,000 people at Das Zelt, won a band competition with On the Trail, sang with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, did the most amount of solo shows I've ever done, received a grant from the state of Connecticut and put on multi-genre programs (a dream of mine for years), and even set foot on the Madison Square Garden stage for the second time in my career, this time singing back-up for the one and only Michael Bublé!

As always, I've got a lot of hopes for the New Year, but if there is one thing I've learned, it's to never take any moment for granted. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is guaranteed, especially the things you don't bring into your own life. So with every incredible moment this year brought, I never forgot to take a second, step back, breathe in the moment, and remember that it could always be the last time, or the closest I get to where I want to be.

My only hopes for this year are to find more peace of mind, share more music with those who wish to receive it, and notice the blessings in each and every moment. My hopes for you are just the same, with a little more light and love for the darkest times.

Happy New Year, my dear friends. Thank you, as always, for being here.

See you soon,

Charlie