Month: January 2013

Dear Harpists and Harp Lovers,

The first event of the season will be the solo recital by AHS Concert Artist Elizabeth White Clark on Saturday, September 29 at 4pm, an event not to be missed, which is also the season kickoff for our sister chapter in the Silicon Valley. I hope you will consider driving south to Immanuel Lutheran Church in San Jose for great music and fellowship.

Following closely comes the visit of jazz harpist extraordinaire Park Stickney on October 6 at Harps, Etc. in Walnut Creek. Come and join us for a workshop, pizza dinner and concert all in one, from 4 to 9pm. The time has come to dig again into our creative instincts and explore ways to fancy up gig repertoire, and gain further understanding into the inner workings of how music is put together. This event is open to harpists of all levels, on lever or pedal harps. You may just listen, or participate hands-on.

One month later we will welcome the TrueNorth Harp Duo, with master teacher Lynne Aspnes and former San Franciscan John Wickey. Their concert at St. Cyprian’s in San Francisco on Friday November 9 at 8pm will be followed by an Afternoon Salon on Sunday from 2 to 6pm at Harps, Etc. The theme for the afternoon will be Wake Up the Artist Within.

Since Lynne specializes in teaching Beginning in the Middle workshops, which are designed to coach those who started to play the harp in mid-life, my mind started to extrapolate, and I’d like to address myself directly to those who recognize themselves under this description. Can our chapter do anything to encourage your personal endeavors and love for the harp? Any practice of an instrument is ultimately a “performing art” that requires expression. In this spirit, would there be enough people among you who would enjoy some kind of opportunity, such as a separate audition category, as part of our upcoming competition in May? If there is interest, I will explain things in more detail soon, as the next step of our board is to organize the competition.

At this time, I wish to call for teachers or others interested in contributing ideas to the repertoire list for the competition to contact me in person immediately. It does not matter whether your students will or won’t participate. We may have a meeting, or simply communicate by email, depending on what will work best.

Many exciting things are in the works for the spring as well: our usual potluck in January, a master class with Heidi Lehwalder, as well as a master class and recital with Gianetta Baril, and of course, the second Yvonne La Mothe Schwager Competition, with the Winners’ Recital already scheduled for June 2 at the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton. Lastly, the existing board has invited Susie Spiwak to join us as Membership Chair. Her enthusiasm and practical mind will be a great asset to further the interests of our association. In the next pages, you will read more about her and about everything else mentioned above.

Here’s to your good health and joy with the harp,
Dominique Piana