 |
Welcome to our calendar! Here you will find events of harp interest throughout the Pacific Northwest. (As submissions come from so many different sources, the Puget Sound Folk Harp Society cannot guarantee the accuracy of every detail; please check with the contact person listed if you have questions or concerns about the event.) If you would like your harp event to be listed here, please contact news@reigningharps.com for submission guidelines. MAY 2008 May 2-4 Naramata BC. Sharlene Wallace will be in Naramata from May 2 - 4, 2008 for High Spirits Music's Annual Intermediate Celtic Harp workshop. Always packed with eager students, this year's sessions promise to take us to the next level in technical and emotive abilities. Sharlene has developed a huge following in cities and towns across Canada, as her popular performances and wild original compositions have brought the harp into its own as a rhythmic, sensual, classy instrument with a multitude of voices. Sharlene's style of teaching is incomparably thorough, her ability to listen and respond to the class invigorating. She will inspire you to cast your own spell with your harp. For more information or an e-mail brochure, contact Caroline Mackay at theharplady@shaw.ca or see www.highspiritsmusic.com. May 4 Seattle WA. The First Sunday harp circle which meets at the Dubliner in Fremont has a new start time, due to venue schedule changes. Please join the circle today from 1:15-3:15 pm and the Welsh session which follows (harps welcome to stay!) goes from from 3:15-5:00. For more information, contact circle host Andrew Anderson at 206-246-0383.
May 4 Tacoma WA. The
South Sound Strings Harp Ensemble, directed by Patricia Wooster, will
present its Spring Concert, "Latin Interlude", at 3:00 in the University
of Puget Sound's Schneebeck Concert Hall in Tacoma. Admission is free. The
25-member student harp ensemble will be joined by several other musicians
in a celebration of Latin American folk melodies. Visiting musicians
include 3 professionals from Mexico, several local Latino artists, and
student percussionists from the UPS School of Music. Featured works will
highlight our Mexican visitors: Celso Duarte, world-renowned teacher and
performer of Paraguayan folk harp; his son Rodrigo Duarte López,
accompanying on guitar and Paraguayan harp; and Gerardo Tamez, classical
guitarist and composer. The ensemble will May 9 Pender Island BC. Alison Vardy in ensemble, Friday, May 9 - 8:00 PM Concert - Pender Island Community Hall. Ticket reservations by emailing Alison or available at the door. Ptarmigan Music presents the inaugural concert of the trio Hope Rising: Patrick Smith (vocals, whistle, guitar, mandolin, hammered dulcimer), Bryce Woolcombe (whistle, flute, sax), Alison Vardy (harp) For more info see: http://www.alisonvardy.com/alison-vardy/concerts.htm. May 10 Seattle WA. Jan Kingston presents two workshops at Dusty Strings. Using Feldenkrais® to Reduce Stress and Tension when you Play the Harp, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $35 or $60 for both of this instructor's workshops. What do musicians do when stressed, while performing and even during practice? Usually, tense up and stop breathing! In this workshop, discover through the Feldenkrais¨ method how to discern more clearly what is happening in your body, and learn specific ways to practice letting go of the tension. Musicians of all levels love how these exercises help them relax and loosen up. Bring your harp, and wear comfortable clothing that you can move in. AND Feldenkrais® for Instrumentalists: Soothing your Sore Back, 1:30-3:30 p.m., $35 or $60 for both of this instructor's workshops. What do amateur musicians, music students, studio players, folk musicians, and orchestral players have in common besides their love of music? All experience higher rates of back pain than most of the population from vague discomfort to conditions that impair your ability to perform. This workshop will teach movements that release tension in your back and can relieve pain. Instruments not needed; wear comfortable clothing that you can move in. The workshops will take place at Dusty Strings, 3406 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle WA 98103. Please call (206) 634-1662 or visit www.dustystrings.com for more information. May 11 Whidbey Island WA (near Greenbank). Harper Tasche plays his annual "Mothers' Day Concert on the Lawn," 12-4 pm at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, www.meerkerkgardens.org. May 13-15 Vancouver Island BC. Residential harp retreat at April Point Resort on Discovery Passage, with instructor Marilyn Rummel, only $199 double occupancy. Make beautiful music with this one-of-a-kind event for beginning and intermediate harp players. Harp rentals are available. See www.obmg.com:80/vacation-specials/live-and-learn/ for more info or contact Marilyn at marilyn@harpcanada.com. May 14 Mill Creek WA. East Side Harp Circle meets in Mill Creek this month; 1 pm start time; for details and directions as well as repertoire suggestions, contact Ann at anndonjenkins@hotmail.com. May 18 Mountlake Terrace WA. Third Sunday harp circle meets at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 2-4:30 pm. All styles, levels, and ages welcome; solo playing appreciated but not required. This is the last circle for the season (we go on summer break June-September) so come join in the fun! Contact Diane at zawamoss@seanet.com for details and directions. May 18 Eugene OR. Emerald Harp Circle normally meets on the second Sunday of the month, but in May that is Mother's Day. So instead they will meet on the third Sunday, May 18th. As usual, the harp circle will take place from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Eugene Hotel. May 23-26 Seattle WA. Folklife! Seattle's annual HUGE folk music extravaganza, at the Seattle Center all Memorial Day weekend. There are generally harps to be found, along with every other type of instrument imaginable. For lots more details and an on-line program, see http://www.nwfolklife.org/P_F/festival.html. There is a search feature there that allows you to look for your favorite performers or types of performance. May 25 Vancouver BC. The West Coast Harp Society is presenting several concerts to help raise money to host the World Harp Congress from July 24-30, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. On May 25th at 3:30 PM: Kaori Otake is performing a benefit solo harp concert at the 400-seat Canadian Memorial Church at 15th and Burrard. Tickets will be available at the door for $15, and the door prize will be one month's rental of an Aoyama Irish harp and 4 free lessons with Kaori. Kaori studied at Juilliard, Curtis and Indiana University and was the 1st Prize winner of the Japan International Harp Competition in all divisions and the winner of the Indiana University Harp Concerto Competition, as well as the Marilyn Costello Memorial Prize in the USA International Competition. Works will include pieces by Spohr, Hasselmans, Maayani, Parish Alvars, Dussek, Respighi, Mchedelov, and Salzedo. May 31 Seattle WA. Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder present a workshop at Dusty Strings. What is Celtic Music?, 1:30-3:30 p.m., $35. For players of all instruments. Begin with an overview of the history of Irish and Scottish dance music and what makes it sound different from other styles. Then, while in the process of teaching two standard Celtic session tunes, learn how to practice efficiently, how to follow jam session etiquette, arrange material for gigs, and play with a danceable, lilting groove. The class will be taught primarily by ear, but sheet music will be given out at the end. Participants do not need to be skilled playing an instrument already, but much of the material will be relevant for accomplished players. The ability to read sheet music is an asset, but not essential. Audio recorders welcome. The workshop will take place at Dusty Strings, 3406 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle WA 98103. Please call (206) 634-1662 or visit www.dustystrings.com for more information. JUNE 2008 Jun 1 Victoria BC. Sharlene Wallace Workshop. Sharlene is having a workshop and demo-concert in Victoria BC hosted by West Coast Harps. Make a weekend of it and come over and enjoy Vancouver Island with The Butchart Gardens in its prime. Details: Sunday, June 1, 2008; 12:30 pm - 5:30 pm; Pranic Healing Centre, Downtown Victoria BC; Fee $60 - includes Demo-Concert; Limited Space - Register early! See www.westcoastharps.com/celtic-harp-info/workshop-sharlene-wallace1.htm. Jun 3-8 Port Townsend WA. Slighe nan Gaidheal, Seattle's Scottish Gaelic language and culture society, presents Feis Shitail with a number of Gaelic subjects, including a Scottish Harp track taught by Mary MacMaster. She is considered one of the most innovative players of the metal-strung harp in the world today, beginning her career in the harp duo Sileas with Patsy Seddon, and going on to become a founding member of the highly popular band The Poozies. Request a registration brochure for more information on the Feis, the other programs of study available, and registration form, at feis@slighe.com or see www.slighe.com/feis.
Jun 6 Port Townsend WA.
Feis Shiatail's Living Tradition concert, with Mary MacMaster, Scottish
harp expert. Also appearing, Wendy MacIsaac, Anne Lorne Gillies, Allan
MacDonald and other tradition bearers. Learn more about all the presenters
at www.slighe.com/presenters.
Concert tickets available at Wandering Angus in Port Townsend - you can
pay over the phone or visit their store! Contact them via their website:
www.wanderingangus.com.
Tickets may be available at the door (if they don't sell out in advance)
at $18/ticket for the general public and $15 for Slighe nan Gaidheal
Jun 7 Coquitlam BC.
Celtic Harp Workshop with instructor Rebecca Blair. This intensive Celtic
harp workshop is designed for both harp novices and intermediate
students and will focus on accompanying skills. Other workshop topics will
include harp technique, improvising and learning Jun 7 Shoreline WA. Greater Seattle Area Chapter of AHS spring chapter meeting, Saturday, June 7th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, St. Dunstan’s Church at 722 N 145th Street in Shoreline. Jun 7-8 Ferndale WA. Dusty Strings hosts the always-welcoming harp tent at the Bellingham Highland Games June 7-8 at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale. There will be a 1:00 pm harp circle on Saturday; other harp activities will be happening in the tent until 5:00 pm. The Scottish Harp Competitions starts at 1:00 pm on Sunday, followed by a harp circle. There will also be harp events happening in the Harp Tent all day on Sunday. Dusty Strings provides a few harps for those who do not wish to travel with their harps, or for those who have always wanted to try a harp. Competition Contest pieces and rules are provided at www.pugetsoundfolkharpsociety.org. Directions, competition entry forms and other Games information is available at www.bhga.org. Forms received before May 21, 2008 will be acknowledged with information packet, harper's individual pass and parking pass. All participants win a prize! Jun 13-15 Crystal Mountain WA. Puget Sound Folk Harp Society presents the Crystal Mountain Folk Harp Festival, with workshops, informal concerts, jamming, great food and fun. Registration opens April 1st. For more info and a registration form, see www.pugetsoundfolkharpsociety.org. Jun 23 - Jul 11 Edmonds WA. Summer Music School, sponsored by the Edmonds School District Department of Music Education, will be offering group harp classes as an exploratory elective this summer. The core program offers students in grades 5-12 a variety of instrumental and vocal performance classes, and is open to students who live in the Edmonds School District (with some enrollments available to those from outside the District). Teacher Leslie McMichael will provide the harp instruction, and Dusty Strings has graciously agreed to supply the beginning harp players with rental folk harps for the session. For more information, visit www.edmonds.wednet.edu/about/summerschool.cfm. Jun 27-29 Suttle Lake OR. Announcing the High Cascade Harp Retreat! Laura Zaerr's La Pine retreat has outgrown its facility, and has moved to a resort on one of Oregon's most serene mountain lakes. The High Cascade Harp Retreat will be a packed week end of workshops for pedal and lever harpists of all levels led by outstanding teachers, catered by experienced chefs, in the heart of the Oregon Cascade Mountains at Suttle Lake Camp and Retreat Center, only two hours from the Willamette Valley, and an hour from Bend. Instructors will be Laura Zaerr, Elzbieta Szmyt, and Rebecca Hilary Smith. Hosted by Laura Zaerr. For more information or a registration form, e-mail lauraz@peak.org. Jun 28-29 Richland WA. Harper Tasche plays his buzzy bray harp in costume throughout the day at Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire, at Howard Amon Park on the banks of the Columbia River. For more information see http://greenwood_players.home.comcast.net/. JULY 2008 Jul 12-13 Mt. Vernon WA. Nortwest Scottish Harp Competition at the Skagit Valley Highland Games (see www.celticarts.org). You do not have to be registered for the competition to participate in the harp circle, so come join the fun at the always welcoming harp tent! Saturday July 12 - Harp Circle 1:00 pm; Sunday July 13 - Northwest Regional Scottish Harp Competition 1:00 pm (followed by a Harp Circle led by the adjudicators and competition participants).
Jul 21-26. Kenmore WA.
Each summer the Pacific Harp Institute holds two 6-day, 5-night sessions
for young harpists. Following are the details for Session I (high school
and up): This advanced level camp is for serious young pedal harpists
seeking an intense week of technical study in pedal harp. Students receive
daily private lessons and chamber music coaching with renowned faculty,
attend workshops on topics such as practice techniques and improvisation,
and perform in a concert at the end of the week. This year's session will
include a panel discussion forum on the life of Carlos Salzedo. Faculty
includes Alison Austin, Artistic Director of PHI; Faye Seeman, harpist of
the Kithara trio and Professor of Harp at Wheaton College, Chicago;
Calista McKasson; and Ruth Mar. Students will also participate in a
workshop with Yolanda Kondonassis, Professor of Harp Jul 22-26 Mt. Baker WA. Music in the mountains: the 2008 Evergreen Flute & Harp Suzuki Institute in the Mount Baker National Forest near Bellingham. Harp teacher Leslie McMichael joins master flute teacher Kenichi Ueda for master and ensemble classes, music theory and nightly fireplace performances, as well as daily hikes, games and crafts, and a concert at the Ranger Station. We saw black bear and marmots last year -- hoping to spot mountain goats this summer! For more information, contact Institute Director David Zagelow at 360-220-4628 or david@evergreenflutes.com or visit www.evergreenmusicstudios.com. Register before April 30 and save $100!
Jul 26-27 Enumclaw WA.
Northwest Scottish Harp Competition at the Pacific Northwest Scottish
Highland Games (see www.sshga.org). You
do not have to be registered for the competition to participate in the
harp circle, so come join the fun at the always welcoming harp tent!
Saturday July 26 - Northwest Regional Scottish Harp Competition 1:00 pm
(followed by a Harp Circle led by the adjudicators and competition
participants); Sunday July 27 - Northwest Regional Scottish Harp
Competition Finals 1:00 pm (followed by a Harp Circle led by the
adjudicators and competition participants). AUGUST 2008 Aug 1-5 Vashon Island WA. Vashon Island Harp Camp returns this summer with two sessions: an adult weekend and a youth camp. Classes at Harp Camp this year include Playing from the Heart, Not from the Nerves; Helpful Hints for Fun Practicing; Four Gaelic Songs Every Harper Should Know; Rockin' Rhythm; Celtic and Scandinavian Music, Harp Ensemble; Just Do It -- Improv for Beginners; and Show No Fear Performance Lab. The adult session runs August 1-3 with Seumas Gagne, Beth Kolle, and Leslie McMichael. The youth camp is August 3-5 with Gwen Lyons Baker, Bianca Collings, and Leslie McMichael. Sign up by May 1 for early bird tuition of $225. Email leslieharp@comcast.net for more information, phone 206-898-4972 or visit www.pluckmusic.com. Aug 12-16 Wells BC. Island Mountain Arts is pleased to announce the following instructors for the 2008 Celtic Harp School which runs August 12 - 16, 2008: Lori Pappajohn from Vancouver, Beginner Harp; Sunita Staneslow from USA/Israel, Early Intermediate Harp; Sharlene Wallace from Toronto, Intermediate Harp; Kim Robertson from USA, Advanced Harp. For more information, write to info@imarts.com or see www.imarts.com. Aug 17 Vancouver BC. The West Coast Harp Society is presenting several concerts to help raise money to host the World Harp Congress from July 24-30, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. On August 17, harpist Sunita Staneslow and fiddler Gal Shahar will perform a concert in the evening. Details, exact time, and location TBA. SEPTEMBER 2008
Sep 21 Vancouver BC. The West Coast
Harp Society is presenting several concerts to help raise money to host
the World Harp Congress from July 24-30, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. On
September 21 at 3:00 PM, at 400-seat Canadian Memorial Church at 15th and
Burrard: a harpists' tribute concert for Jurgen Gothe, whose popular radio
show "Disc Drive" is going off the air in August. The Master of Ceremonies
will be Lucy MacNeill, and the performers will include: Christa Grix,
Winter Harp, Elizabeth Volpé Bligh, Kaori Otake, Josh Layne, Blanche
Olivar, Lani Krantz, Alys Howe, Heidi Krutzen, as well as flamenco dancer
Andrea Williams, bassist Wilmer Fawcett, and percussionist Lauri Lyster.
Tickets will be $25 for regulars, $20 for seniors and students.
|
| Calendar | |
         |