October 2016
Dear BACAHS Members and Friends,
Welcome new members and greetings veterans! We hope you have recently joined or renewed your chapter membership for 2016-2017. If not yet, please consider doing so at our upcoming Fall Kickoff event, featuring Sarah Voynow’s Jazz Trio (see information below). We’re offering a special rate for those paying for dues and tickets at the event. Don’t miss Suki Russack’s Member Spotlight on Sarah below.
We have exciting Chapter News, introducing guidelines for the bi-annual Yvonne La Mothe Schwager Competition for Young Harpists, announcing our new member-partnership with Center for New Music in San Francisco, and spreading the word about a newly forming BACAHS Harp Ensemble. Member News needs your news! See who is sharing their harp doings with us. Did someone say National Harp Day?
Our Coming Events feature brims with calendar items you’ll want to plan for. Save the date! for our ever popular Winter Potluck January 15, as Jennifer Ellis introduces to us her Admiral Launch Duo. And Classified Ads is ready for your visit as you hunt for your next harp!
Now that your appetite is duly whetted, please read on!
Happy Harping!
—Alice Yothers and Susie Spiwak
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Voynow by Suki Russack
As I was reading Sarah Voynow’s biography, I thought, how could one person have done so much with so many different kinds of music? Unbeknownst to many of us who know her, she is an incredibly accomplished harpist, able to perform in all types of classical and popular music traditions.
Sarah began playing the harp at age six and by 11 was honing her ear training and improvisation while playing afternoon tea at Sun Valley Lodge in Idaho, accepting requests at the hum of a tune.
After receiving BA, MA and DMA degrees from Juilliard, she started touring and recording with the likes of clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, and Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, and playing and recording with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, among other orchestras of note, as well as various Broadway shows. Her accolades include first prize at the Lyon and Healy International Jazz/Pop Harp Competition in 1990.
When I asked Sarah about her experience with jazz improvisation, she told me that it is necessary to get beyond the “fear factor”. The more she plays with other great jazz musicians, the better she understands jazz harmony. She explained that an understanding of music theory is necessary in order to be able to improvise within popular music genres. She noted that to get around the complexities of some jazz harmony, the use of enharmonics, careful voicing of chords and, when necessary, playing the melodic line can help, instead of trying to play all the harmonies. As a result, a harpist needs an almost instinctive knowledge of the mechanics of the harp pedals in order to play the harmonic progressions with any facility. Wow, that’s an earful!
Sarah’s upcoming concert, October 23, will serve to introduce or further acquaint musicians and music lovers with jazz on the harp and the music of harpist/composer Dorothy Ashby (1930-1986). Ashby extended the popularization of jazz harp past a novelty, showing how the instrument can be utilized seamlessly, as much a bebop instrument as the saxophone. She also contributed music and arrangements for many pop music greats, including Stevie Wonder. Sarah became inspired by Ashby’s music while doing research for her doctoral dissertation at Juilliard on the History of Jazz Performance. Although Sarah never met Ashby, she had the opportunity to interview Ashby’s husband to get a flavor for the soul of this groundbreaking musician.
Sarah’s jazz trio includes notable Bay Area musicians Pat Klobas on bass and David Rokeach on drums/percussion. Tickets are available at centerfornewmusic.com. For a small taste of Sarah’s work, you can listen to two tunes from the album titled “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” on Soundcloud.
CHAPTER NEWS:
Students up to age 25, start preparing for the Yvonne LaMothe Schwager Competion for Young Harpists to be held on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The Winners’ Recital will take place on Sunday, May 28, 2017 at the San Damiano Retreat Center in conjunction with the 2017 International Harp Festival. Madeline Jarzembak, new Principal Harp with the Santa Cruz Symphony, will be the featured performer in addition to the student competition winners. Repertoire, Guidelines and Registration are available at https://bacharp.org/competitions/
Benefit for BACAHS members: BACAHS joined the Center for New Music (C4NM) at 55 Taylor Street in San Francisco. C4NM offers rehearsal, meeting and performance space to its members at reduced rates. If you are interested in learning more about renting the space, contact Susie Spiwak at bacahs@gmail.com.
A harp ensemble for BACAHS members is in the first stages of formation and slated to begin this fall. Natalie Cox and Janice Oretga will be providing leadership and repertoire suitable for both pedal and lever harps. The group will meet once each month. Several likely locations in San Francisco are being considered that can accommodate easy load in and close parking. A few lever harps may be available for borrowing. Details such as the day of the week and nominal fee are still being worked out.
Anyone who is interested in joining, please contact Natalie Cox at musicians@lmi.net or 510-778-0737. Please let us know if you have preferred day(s) of the week and if you will bring your own harp or will need a loaner.
MEMBER NEWS:
Welcome New Members in 2016-17! Sarah Goss, Safina Kajani, Jasmine Low, Sarah Thompson
Erica Messer presented a proposal to the AHS to advocate for a new national holiday: National Harp Day. They will be voting on whether to proceed with the proposal next week.
Erica is also asking for donations of harps to her public school harp program at North Shoreview Montessori School in San Mateo. As the Artist in Residence, she has received eight harp donations so far, but is eager to grow the program. Contact her at harpisteri@gmail.com for more information or to donate.
North Shoreview Montessori ensemble will perform at Filoli Holiday Traditions November 29 at 11:30 am-12 noon. Erica’s private students will perform at Hillsdale Mall (Nordstrom Court) in San Mateo, December 3, at 5pm-6pm.
Destiny Muhammad was busy in September with performances at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and sharing music with Kaiser Permanente Bay Area Health Professionals at the San Ramon Marriott. Her October is gearing up performing at UCSF, the Heart and Soul Center of Light in Oakland, the BayView Grand Opening and an interview by Melannie Green of station KPOO. destinymuhammadproject.com
Joffria Whitfield will be performing as Principal Harp with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra in a program called Sound Worlds, featuring music by Antonin Dvorak, Alberto Ginastera, John Knowles Paine and Martin Rokeach. November 6, 2:00 p.m., Hoffman Theater, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek—more info and November 12, 2:00 p.m., El Campanil Theater, Antioch—more info
Check out our upcoming events here.
And don’t forget the classified ads here.