Despite a voice disorder that might have silenced her, Jane Gilman’s story is one of courage, creativity, and a lifelong devotion to music.

Jane Gillman grew up in Maryland, the daughter of a writer and a classical pianist, with one ear tuned to pop radio and the other to the roots music traditions of Washington, D.C. By the time she was in high school, she was performing solo shows at a local club, and at just 17 she moved to Austin to study Folklore and Anthropology at UT. That move kicked off a lifelong career as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician, leading to seven albums on respected labels like Philo, Green Linnet, and Rounder Records.

Her music has taken her everywhere — from major folk festivals in Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Kerrville to smoky Italian bars and small-town community stages. Along the way, she broke ground as one of the first women harmonica players ever endorsed by Hohner and expanded into musical theatre, performing and directing in productions across the U.S. and abroad.

Jane is also a creator at heart, from producing music for preschools nationwide to co-founding the PrettySing Collective, to scoring the award-winning short film Fire Animals. These days you’ll find her onstage with "Up Around the Sun," playing harmonica and octave mandolin alongside Tim Kerr and Jerry Hagins — and always, finding new ways to keep the joy of music alive.

Together, we can continue to transform lives through music, creativity, and community.

The OYOU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Marcos and Martindale, Texas. Our mission is to make the arts accessible to everyone and to empower and transform lives by connecting the mind, body, and spirit through music and the creative arts.

Because accessibility starts with affordability, we keep our events free or low-cost, and we provide a robust scholarship program to ensure no one is turned away. Every program empowers individuals to explore music, creative writing, the arts, and personal growth in a supportive and inclusive community.

We are especially proud of our specialized programs for individuals with special needs, those facing financial hardship, and people navigating health challenges. Whether at our home base at Wilory Farm in Martindale, throughout Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe Counties, or across Texas, OYOU fosters creativity, connection, and healing.

Website: https://www.ownyourownuniverse.org/

Website: https://janegillman.com/

Podcast: https://www.ownyourownuniverse.org/own-your-own-universe-with-terri-hendrix-podcast/

Support the show

Despite a voice disorder that might have silenced her, Jane Gilman’s story is one of courage, creativity, and a lifelong devotion to music.

Jane Gillman grew up in Maryland, the daughter of a writer and a classical pianist, with one ear tuned to pop radio and the other to the roots music traditions of Washington, D.C. By the time she was in high school, she was performing solo shows at a local club, and at just 17 she moved to Austin to study Folklore and Anthropology at UT. That move kicked off a lifelong career as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician, leading to seven albums on respected labels like Philo, Green Linnet, and Rounder Records.

Her music has taken her everywhere — from major folk festivals in Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Kerrville to smoky Italian bars and small-town community stages. Along the way, she broke ground as one of the first women harmonica players ever endorsed by Hohner and expanded into musical theatre, performing and directing in productions across the U.S. and abroad.

Jane is also a creator at heart, from producing music for preschools nationwide to co-founding the PrettySing Collective, to scoring the award-winning short film Fire Animals. These days you’ll find her onstage with "Up Around the Sun," playing harmonica and octave mandolin alongside Tim Kerr and Jerry Hagins — and always, finding new ways to keep the joy of music alive.

The OYOU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Marcos and Martindale, Texas. Our mission is to make the arts accessible to everyone and to empower and transform lives by connecting the mind, body, and spirit through music and the creative arts.

Because accessibility starts with affordability, we keep our events free or low-cost, and we provide a robust scholarship program to ensure no one is turned away. Every program empowers individuals to explore music, creative writing, the arts, and personal growth in a supportive and inclusive community.

We are especially proud of our specialized programs for individuals with special needs, those facing financial hardship, and people navigating health challenges. Whether at our home base at Wilory Farm in Martindale, throughout Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe Counties, or across Texas, OYOU fosters creativity, connection, and healing.

501 (C)(3) Charity EIN 27-3390938

Essential Reading:

https://www.ownyourownuniverse.org/

https://janegillman.com/

Support the show