Mer Pantaleoni Boel works as a composer, performer, and computer and financial systems consultant. She holds a BFA in voice with a minor in violin from City College of the City University, where she graduated as valedictorian, and a MS from Binghamton University in Advanced Technology - Systems Science. She created the Name Music mapping system, an alphabet-to-pitch correspondence that enables the translation of names and other text to melodic motifs and other musical structures, and leads her group Water Bear in performing and recording these pieces. Mer's recent compositions explore the eclectic merging of jazz, classical and folk idioms to create musical fun and adventures for listeners and players alike.

www.waterbearmusic.com