Music photographer, Irene Young has created Glass Half Full, A Music Photographer's Vision of Hope, a compilation CD highlighting her renowned client's most powerful and healing songs. The inspirational album which features 23 women musicians performing songs of comfort and strength will benefit the national organization, the BREAST CANCER FUND and SHARE, a New York State-based organization that provides support to women with breast and ovarian cancer. According to Irene Young, 'When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, many of the extraordinary artists and friends I had worked with over the years asked what they could do to help. The power of their music provided consolation and support during the most challenging of days. I wanted to share that experience with other women for their own healing process, to promote breast cancer awareness, and to champion the cause of independent music. A community of musicians came together to help me to help others, and I created Glass Half Full during my months of chemotherapy and healing.' The women musicians -- all influential in their own genres which range from rock to jazz to folk and even traditional Irish music -- donated their work for this CD to help the breast cancer cause. They include: Suzanne Vega; Ireland's Queen of Music Mary Black; Windham Hill jazz favorite, Barbara Higbie; singer/activist Holly Near; New York's endearing Suzzy & Maggie Roche; the legendary Laura Nyro; Christine Lavin; Patti Larkin; Cris Williamson; grammy winners, Cathy Fink & Mary Marxer; Grace Griffith, Deidre McCalla, Mae Robertson, Ilene Weiss, Anne Hills, Jennifer Cutting, Freyda Epstein, and west coast favorites Jennifer Berezan, Laurie Lewis, Chris Webster and Sheilah Glover.

'Irene Young's Glass Half Full calls you to the sacred space of celebrating life, friendship, and art. She has reached beyond the barriers of a devastating disease to touch others with her powerful compassion, optimism and hope.' - Jeanne Rizzo, R.N. Executive Director, Breast Cancer Fund

'This collection of music, so mindfully focused upon the healing of body and spirit, is a testament to one woman's commitment to being part of the community of healing and health so that others might go there as well.' - Will Ackerman, Producer/Musician, Founder of Windham Hill Records

'The lightening-speed pace of current everyday life makes it imperative that we take time to rejuvenate ourselves. Listening to music for comfort and strength is a perfect prescription.' - Deborah Axelrod, MD, FACS, Director of Clinical Breast Services and Surgery, NYU Cancer Institute

'Irene's act of creating Glass Half Full while undergoing medical treatment is filled with contagious optimism.' - Paula Klein, MD, Attending Physician, Oncology, St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center

'The whole thing is bursting with love!' - Suzzy Roche, Musician

'As a photographer Irene Young captures what is within her subjects, not simply what is without. She sees with compassion the many prisms of the spirit. It is therefore not surprising that she approached her personal journey with cancer just as she approaches her work: with compassion, studying it from all sides, distilling the essence and turning that experience into something beautiful. That something beautiful is her CD Glass Half Full.' - Heather Raffo, Actor/Playwright, 9 Parts of Desire, The Play

'Irene's response, as she went through surgery, chemo, and radiation, was to initiate the Glass Half Full project to bring hope and comfort to others. She is such an inspiration with her generous soul, and this CD is the perfect woman to woman gift. This is the kind of story--and music--that does your heart good.' - Aan Jones, Author, Looking For Lovedu, Kabul In Winter

'Glass Half Full is a wonderful compilation of inspiring music - just as inspiring as Ms. Young's ability to cope with her illness and treatment. Her optimism was truly contagious to us all.' - M. Juliano, M.S.N, Clinical Nurse Specialist, St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center