Music & Meditation: Listening to the Moment

A Morning Meditation in Presence

This event is one of many planned as a part of our May Sanctuary Symposium. For more information, go to https://thesanctuarystudio.org/symposium/

The second guided meditation in our Sanctuary Symposium, this session will deepen the weekend’s contemplative practice. Sharon Lebell and Simon Drew will guide participants in learning how to drop fully into the present moment and listen—beyond thought—for what the moment itself is revealing.

Through music, silence, and gentle awareness, participants cultivate the capacity to hear the subtle intelligence of now.

This event is part of our May Sanctuary Symposium, Becoming Free: An Intensive Introduction to Inner Freedom, with guest philosopher and artist Sharon Lebell. While each gathering stands on its own, the weekend has been carefully designed as a cohesive journey, unfolding across all events from Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3. For those wishing to engage more fully, a weekend pass is available and offers a $50 savings compared to attending individual events. We warmly invite you to join us for the full arc of the Symposium.

Sharon Lebell is the author of, among other books, the international bestseller The Art of Living, a modern, accessible expression of the Stoic teachings of Epictetus. She is also a master player of and composer on a super-sized hammer dulcimer, workshop leader, and public speaker. Sharon’s talks and workshops combine practical philosophy that enriches daily living with live music to settle the mind and open the heart.

Simon Drew is a vocalist, trumpeter, poet, and educator whose work bridges jazz tradition, contemplative practice, and artistic inquiry. Known for his smooth vocal tone and lyrical trumpet style, he is recognized as an elegant interpreter of the Great American Songbook, drawing inspiration from Frank Sinatra and West Coast jazz artists such as Chet Baker. Alongside his jazz work, Simon creates meditative and experimental music, blending piano, didgeridoo, and folk instruments in original recordings.

A dedicated educator, Simon teaches voice and multiple instruments, emphasizing the soul-enriching power of music. He is the author of The Poet & The Sage, a work of poetry and prose exploring the inner life and the search for enduring truths. As the longtime host of The Walled Garden (formerly The Practical Stoic), Simon has spent years engaging classical philosophy through conversations with professors, philosophers, theologians, poets, and cultural leaders. In 2025, he founded The Sanctuary Studio for the Arts & Humanities, a tranquil space in Downtown Santa Ana devoted to public engagement with the living traditions of the arts and humanities.