Just as we are vitalized by our community, at Art of Living MODERN we believe we must support those who strengthen and surround us. We do this through the best way we know how - design.

Through personal connection or reference, we carefully choose an individual who has given endlessly through artistic and ethical means and provide our design services, time, and efforts to uplift and reciprocate their positive, giving spirit.

     CAROL ANNE TAYLOR AND STERLING PROCTER

     Meet Carol Anne Taylor and Sterling Procter, the Art of Living MODERN Corporate Care Project recipients for 2015. This creative, dynamic, pair was thoughtfully chosen in recognition of their lifelong contribution to the arts, community, and humanity.

    Since the age of 4, Carol Anne has been dancing, playing the piano, and growing as a performer. Her range now includes the French horn, organ, singing, and teaching. Sterling began his musical career with the flute, French horn, and guitar, composing and arranging complicated original scores and orchestrations very early on.

     Although they attended the University of North Texas, where each earned Master of Music degrees (hers in Organ Performance, and his in Horn Performance), it wasn’t until 2003 that their lives miraculously intersected. As Carol Anne served as organist and Director of Children’s Choirs and Carillonneur at Cathedral Guadalupe in Dallas, Texas, Sterling stood as 2nd Horn in the Fort Worth Symphony, member-manager of the Festival Brass of Dallas, and music contractor for area churches and events where each year his Christmas tour divinely included Cathedral Guadalupe.

    The two met while performing at the Cathedral and began sharing their lifelong passions of music and the outdoors, both maintaining a healthy, active life of hiking mountains, biking around White Rock Lake, and running marathons.  Shortly thereafter, Sterling began noticing increasing difficulty in these activities, having trouble climbing stairs, rising from chairs, and eventually even lifting his French horn and was diagnosed with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis, a rare progressive muscle disorder. For a short period, he could still drive and walk with the help of a cane. Carol Anne lovingly stayed by his side throughout all these physical changes, and the couple was married in 2013.

    Since their wedding, Sterling’s condition has progressed, causing him to be solely dependent on a motorized wheelchair every day and powered stair lift to the upstairs master bedroom.  Still they love and support each other in every way possible, while attempting to live a normal and positive life. Sterling supports Carol Anne as she is preparing for her 31st marathon; upon finishing each race, she sends a photo of herself to him at the finish line so they can continue sharing these moments that they once enjoyed together.

    Art of Living MODERN is honored to offer our time and design expertise to create a new “SEXY ADA Master Suite” in the downstairs of their already lovely home.  Our gift comes from a place of gratitude for this couple that has selflessly given to the art community, each other, and to all of us who have been fortunate enough to know and be loved by them.

     Carol Anne and Sterling, we thank you and we celebrate your special love that knows no limits. 

“We share our open hearts, our profound love, and our joy of living together, and we share this love in all we do and with all we meet.”

-Carol Anne Taylor and Sterling Procter