Kelly of the Keys

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat

OK, so Ms. Dalton might not be an A-list celebrity... as of yet. She doesn't have any snapshots in People yet, or any gossip column write-ups. Nor has she snagged any Grammys.

Even though she's not famous, you might know her. That's because she's a UA sophomore political science major, as well as a director at ASUA.

What most people, including many friends and colleagues, haven't known until recently is what a musical virtuoso Dalton is. A talented pianist and composer, her eponymous first CD just came out at the beginning of the year. If you've been around the ASUA offices in the past few weeks, chances are you heard her music playing in the background.

Her music is striking and impressive, yet calming and subtle. Dalton's style is not over the top and grandiose, like another insipid John Tesh. Rather, it's simple and austere, in a vaguely new-agey mode, reminiscent of composer David Lanz. Most of her pieces are piano and violin duets, with a few vocal accompaniments. Ultimately, she creates a very contemplative and relaxing mood through her music.

The CD itself is a collection of pieces Dalton has been composing and revising over the years. She actually started working on the project when she started college a year and a half ago. Though her CD is already selling out at Borders, Dalton modestly says her first audience in mind was her parents. By capturing her work on a CD, she's leaving her parents the gift of her music.

Originally from Phoenix, Dalton has been composing ever since she started playing the piano at age 5, when her piano teacher asked her to make a song that sounded like the rain. Though her CD is certainly a mature effort, it seems to be a continuation of that theme. All of the tracks echo the feeling of rain ... peaceful and serene.

Even if this CD started out for modest reasons, Dalton admits, "It just grew into a much bigger project."

Likening her music to very personal poetry, she is in that peculiar state of sudden public attention in which artists often find themselves. For the time being, she will be waiting to hear responses from the record labels, but she already has intentions of putting out another CD of her compositions. Her ultimate goal is to get her music into film and TV scores. But those of her fans who would like to see a world tour best not hold their breath. Local engagements will have to do for the time being.