Lara Fabian – A singer who communicates directly to the soul. Here are two performances that you must not rob yourself of: Je Suis Malade and Caruso. To me her art is about genuine storytelling first and foremost, and not simply the display of technical prowess - while her execution certainly is careful and attentive.

William Westney – An American concert pianist who has developed a revolutionary holistic approach to teaching that surely will result in more musicians coming closer to fulfilling their potential and fewer being stopped by injury before getting there. The principles are applicable even to art forms other than music and is described in his book The Perfect Wrong Note.

Nadia Schulz – Painting is an art form that has been somewhat inaccessible to me. Not so when it comes to Nadia Schulz' paintings, which work for me on multiple and seemingly opposing levels. There is room for both minimalistic attention to detail as well as broad strokes and vivid, explosive colors.

Walt Whitman – Even though he isn't alive physically anymore, I must include this elevated spirit on my list of inspirations. Whenever I have somehow drifted away from myself or have been a little disoriented (which is not a rare occurrence at all, I might add!), his Song of the Open Road has always had a tendency to lead me back to myself (particularly 1, 5, 6, 7) - and for us human beings what is more important than becoming who we are? Needless to say, I am a great believer in the power of art!