Remarkable Women: Abigail Payne's musical journey of legacy & love

Yahoo

19-03-2025

ABILENE, Texas () – With every ivory key she presses, Abigail Payne shares the escape of music, ensuring that everyone — no matter their circumstances — can feel its power. Through her nonprofit work, she's spreading that love to as many ears as possible.
'Music has always been such a part of my life. Whether I'm in a bad place or a good place, it's just what I go to,' Payne said.
Music has always been close to her heart, a love she shared with her dad before he passed away when she was young. Now, she's following in his footsteps as a musician, keeping his spirit alive through her work.
'When I think of music, I think of my dad; when I think of my dad, I think of music. That's really special for me to say this wonderful man who was gone too soon. I get to carry on a legacy of sorts,' Payne said.
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That legacy lives on in her role as executive director of Chorus Abilene — where she's now introducing her own daughter to the world of music.
'I've been more comfortable working with adults. But I have taken joy in seeing the little kids. My daughter is in one of the groups. She's eight. That's been fun to appreciate young singers,' Payne said.
While piano is her forte, collaboration is her passion.
'I'm a collaborative pianist, so I'm always working with another musician, and I love working with singers,' Payne said.
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Longtime collaborator and singer Serayah Peters says Payne has a way of transforming the performance space.
'Abigail does such a great job setting the scene and I feel like I can just breathe easy and step into the world that she created. Any time I have to perform, she has to be the one to accompany me because I'm very particular and she's just fantastic,' Peters said. Payne's musical journey started when she was young, but it took time — and the generosity of a mentor — to develop her craft.
'If it weren't for the teachers that I had in my life, like my first piano teacher, Noreen, my mom said, I can pay for one lesson. We would have one 30-minute lesson a month. Then Noreen said, for every lesson you pay for, I'll give the girls a free one,' Payne recalled.
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That generosity shaped Payne's outlook, and now, she's paying it forward by removing financial barriers for others.
'We have tuition scholarships for anybody that needs it to sing with us. We don't want anybody to feel limited by their finances,' Payne explained.
Now, she's gearing up for an upcoming recital with on April 5, continuing her mission to bring music to as many hearts as possible.
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