HAVE HARP, WILL TRAVEL
WHERE I’VE BEEN
From August 2011 to August 2012, I followed the story of the harp around the globe, sponsored by the Thomas J. Watson Foundation. In total I visited Canada, China, Germany, Denmark, Austria, France, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, England, Spain, and Paraguay. My year of independent studies deeply impacted my approach to the harp, influencing my teaching style and musical voice. I am so grateful to the many friends and musicians who helped me along my journey.
WHERE I’LL GO
Destination weddings, corporate events, master classes, workshops, and concerts: I will travel anywhere in the world to bring my knowledge and music to your special occasion. Contact me for more information.
GLOBAL HARP GALLERY
Practicing the konghou harp at the Yiqingquan Tea House, under the direction of harpist Lin Wu
Studying the Konghou with harpist Xiaotang Gao
Workshop with the Shenyang Conservatory of Music konghou players
The workshop was hosted by professor and konghou harp builder, Guang Yuen Zhou
The 6th century Trossingen Lyre, discovered in 2002, unveiled at the Trossingen Lyre Symposium
Playing a Gothic style harp at the home of harp builder Winfried Goerge
En route to Austria with world-renowned harpist and folklorist Nancy Thym
The Mürnseer Harp worshop with owner and harp builder Peter Mürnseer
Playing at the studio of artist Linda Doernbach
Playing traditional German polkas with accordionist Rick Doernbach!
Playing on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Examining Marie Antoinette’s harp at the palace of Versailles
Performing with Nancy Thym at a Bavarian gun club Christmas party!
Working on building my travel harp, under the direction of master instrument builder, Thilo Viehrig
Applying a natural propolis stain to the wood
The smallest pedal harp in the world, with one pedal!
Practicing at the Fischer Harp Factory and Showroom
Examining historical harps used by Czech Harfenmädchen
Performing historical pieces with Nancy Thym and Thilo Viehrig at the Sudetendeutschen Haus Harfenmädchen exhibit
The Cottage at the Irish Harp Centre
Playing with harpist Thea Huard
Playing in a traditional Irish pub session with harpist Janet Harbison
Visiting the grave of Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan
From the poem “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams…” by Arthur O’Shaughnessy
At the Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh Irish Music and Language festival
Trad night at Cobblestone Pub
At the Edinburgh International Harp Festival
Playing a 19th century Clark harp, at the home of historical harpist Mike Parker
Walking 450 miles across Spain on the Way of St. James, carrying my harp in my backpack!
This hospitalero helped me with my visa paperwork, so I played my harp to thank him. Then he gave me a bracelet to thank me for my music!
Playing in an albergue before bed
Playing with other pilgrims from Czech Republic and Germany after a long day of walking. The only song we all knew was “The House of the Rising Sun”!
Entertaining pilgrims after dinner
Playing and singing at the Ruins of San Anton with a pilgrim from the French ecumenical and musical Christian monastic community, Taizé
Playing for Italian pilgrims who cooked me traditional spaghetti!
Playing evening meditations for pilgrims at a German hostel
Playing and singing with my dear friend Mirka Hochmannova, from Prague, the night before arriving in Santiago. Our power had gone out!
Playing in front of the King David statue at the Santiago Cathedral
The feet that carried me 450 miles!
The day after I arrived in Santiago, I ran into this harpist busking on the street outside the Cathedral!
At a traditional asado barbecue with harpist Marcelo Rojas. The harp is the national instrument of Paraguay.
Playing at the Arpa Roga Harp School with harpist Kike Pedersen
Playing at the home of a harp builder and audio engineer, at the invitation of harpist Mariano Gonzalez
At the National Paraguayan Harp Festival, where 500 harpists played all together!