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 2013

May 3  Victoria BC.  Josh Layne in concert, playing music from his new CD, 7:30 pm at St. Aidan's Church, 3703 St. Aidan’s Street. For info on the program see http://www.joshlayne.com/CDtour.html.

May 4  Eugene OR.  Strings of Compassion benefit concert, with the harps and voices of the music thanatologists of Sacred Heart Medical Center and Hospice, and special guests from across the Pacific Northwest. Reception with musicians follows the concert. 7 pm, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 166 East 13th Street in Eugene. Free, donations gratefully accepted.

May 4  Cumberland BC.  Roger Helfrick in concert on Vancouver Island, in his 12th annual Spring/May/Beltaine concert on May 4, 2013. This will be a concert of original songs, traditional and early music from various countries and centuries, as well as improvisations both vocal and instrumental. Roger will sing and play lever harp, plucked psaltery and guitar. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Cumberland United Church, 2688 Penrith Avenue, Cumberland. Tickets are $15 available at: Laughing Oyster Books in Courtenay and Blue Heron Books in Comox. For more info: www.rogerhelfrick.ca.

May 4  Vancouver BC.  Josh Layne in concert, playing music from his new CD, Saturday, May 4, 7:30 pm at the Creative Hub Performance Space, 837 Davie Street. Tickets $10. Note that there is very limited seating (40 seats) - if you'd like to reserve your seat you can buy tickets and get more info on the program at http://www.joshlayne.com/CDtour.html.

May 5  Seattle WA.  Canadian harpist, composer, and author of the "Harp Tuesday" video series Josh Layne in concert, 3 pm, at 13th Church of Christ Scientist, 3500 NE 125th Street in north Seattle (Lake City). He will be performing material from his new CD and other pieces, including four of his own compositions. Admission by donation. For more info on the program see http://www.joshlayne.com/CDtour.html.

May 5  Everett WA.  The Gregorian Chant ensemble Peregrine joins harpists Jeri Howe and Dia Walker from Sacred Harmonies at Providence for a one-hour program of sacred music in the Ascension Chapel at Providence Regional Medical Center, 1700 13th St. 3 pm. Free. For more information, please call 425-261-4550 or e-mail Ann.gibson@providence.org.

May 8  Bellevue WA. The Eastside Harp Circle will meet at its new time of 11:00 on May 8th, the second Wednesday of the month, at the Yarrow Point home of Liz Freeman. We try to arrive a bit beforehand, say at 10:45, so that we can get harps in, unloaded, tuned and ready to go at 11:00. Please join us to play group tunes and bring your works in progress to share amid. Finger foods for our tea break are always welcome, too! For more information on these monthly gatherings, contact Diana Beaumont at mdbeaumont@me.com or call 425-225-5337.

May 10  Seattle WA.  Adirondack Harper Martha Gallagher in concert at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N, 7:30-9:30 pm.  $10 suggested donation. Sponsored by Pacific NW Folklore Society.

May 11  Seattle WA.  Harp workshop at Dusty Strings: Martha Gallagher presents "Illumination and Inspiration!" on Saturday, May 11th from 1-4pm. It will be a three-hour workshop for $75 - Registration in advance by calling 206-634-1662. Martha says "This expansive workshop is chock full of ideas and "tools" from all my individual workshop offerings: spicing up arrangements, playing blues on the lever harp, getting comfy with improv, singing, songwriting, performance skills and more. We will explore how to give zest to and vary arrangements, as well as improvise. These "tools" will be fun and wonderfully useful for both those who play out in public and those who enjoy playing for themselves. These ideas and inspirations can be applied to any music. I encourage participants to let me know in advance what you'd like to explore. You'll go home with lots of new things to incorporate right away into your music as well as things to explore over time on your own. Bring harps; all levels welcome."

May 11  Seattle WA.  Adirondack Harper Martha Gallagher in concert with Seumas Gagne and Leslie McMichael on Saturday, May 11 for a performance at Two Dog Yoga Studio in North Seattle, 7 pm. Tickets are $15 general admission, or just $40 for a "Friends&Family" Four Pack. Brown Paper Tickets has advance tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/365552 . For more information, call 206-898-4972 or visit www.pluckmusic.com.

May 11  Seattle WA.  The Medieval Women's Choir and Margriet Tindemans (director and medieval fiddle) are joined by soprano Marian Seibert, percussionist Peggy Monroe, and harpist Bill McJohn for "Music of the Spheres", a program of music by Hildegard of Bingen. 8 pm, St James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave. Suggested donation $25. For more information, please visit www.medievalwomenschoir.org or call (206) 264-4822.

May 11  Port Townsend WA.  Magical Strings in a Mothers Day Concert, 7 pm,  First Baptist Church, 1202 Lawrence St., call 360-385-5885 for more info.

May 12  Kirkland WA.  Laurie Riley and other musicians play and show their visual art as part of the Kirkland Arts Studio Tour from 10 am to 6 pm, at Anna Jenkins home, located at 6207 Lake Washington Blvd NE in Kirkland. Follow this link to read more about KAST - http://kirklandartiststudiotour.com/.

May 12  Whidbey Island WA.  Harper Tasche performs his 20th annual (!!) Mother's Day matinee concert on the lawn at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, just south of Greenbank. The concert goes from noon to 4 pm; bring a yard blanket and a lunch basket and stay all afternoon. Harper writes, "In celebration of so many years making music in this beautiful woodland garden environment, I'll be playing favorite selections from the past twenty years' annual performances, featuring several of the instruments I've brought to Meerkerk over the years. Come join in the fun!" For more information see www.meerkerkgardens.org.

May 12  Bellingham WA.  Kathie Hardy will be performing with her harp in a Mother's Day Concert on Sunday, May 12th, 2013 from 1:30 - 3:30pm at Big Rock Garden Park (Central Pavilion, 2900 Sylvan Street, Bellingham, WA). For more info see http://www.cob.org/services/recreation/parks-trails/big-rock.aspx or contact Kathie at 360-319-7081 or www.celticharp.info.

May 12  Vashon Island WA.  Adirondack Harper Martha Gallagher in concert with Seumas Gagne and Leslie McMichael on Sunday, May 12 at Vashon United Methodist Church for a concert benefiting Vashon Youth and Family Services. Advance tickets to the 5:30 pm Sunday concert benefit are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/365597. For more information, call 206-898-4972 or visit www.pluckmusic.com.

May 18  Kenmore WA.  Spring is in the air, and so is the sound of great Gaelic music! Seirm's singers and band, including the harp department (Eileen Warr-Marti, Miranda Marti, Jason Kies, Sally Verrinder, Nan Pardew), would love to welcome you for an evening of songs and tunes. Attendance is open to all current Slighe nan Gaidheal members and their invited guests. Becoming a member is easy! See their web site for complete details: http://www.slighe.com/calendar.php#725.

May 18  Seattle WA.  The Trinity Consort, including guest artist Harper Tasche, presents "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?" featuring laments and love-gone-wrong songs spanning the centuries. We promise to cheer you up before the evening ends! 7:30 pm, Trinity Episcopal, 609 Eighth Ave (at James St, on First Hill). For more information see www.trinityseattle.org.

May 18-19  Seattle WA.  Magical Strings will have an instrument booth (with harps) at the University District Street Fair.

May 19  Mountlake Terrace WA.  Third Sunday harp circle meets at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 2-4:30 pm.  Our optional theme of the month is "Songs of Stage & Screen"... Broadway, Hollywood, or your favorite TV theme perhaps? All styles and levels welcome; contact Diane at zawamoss@seanet.com for details and directions.

May 19  Seattle WA.  The Seattle International Film Festival presents "After Winter, Spring" by Judith Lit, featuring music by Harper Tasche. 4:00 pm,  Landmark Harvard Exit Theater, 807 E Roy St (Capitol Hill). For more information and tickets see www.siff.net/festival-2013.

May 20  Seattle WA.  The Seattle International Film Festival presents "After Winter, Spring" by Judith Lit, featuring music by Harper Tasche. 8:30 pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N (lower Queen Anne). For more information and tickets see www.siff.net/festival-2013.

May 24-27  Seattle WA.  Northwest Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center. Hundreds of performers on dozens of stages throughout the weekend. See the on-line schedule at http://2013northwestfolklifefestival.sched.org/. Unfortunately, this "new improved" schedule does not allow you to search by words (like "harp") but you can search by performer if you know which harp player or group you are seeking. Those harp players who submitted calendar entries for their Folklife performances are listed separately below!

May 24-27  Seattle WA.  Magical Strings instrument booth (with harps) at Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle Center. Free.

May 25  Seattle WA.  There are harpers in the band as Seirm (Scottish Gaelic music ensemble) performs at Northwest Folklife Festival, in the Center House Theatre at the Seattle Center, 7:40-8:15 pm. Free.

May 26  Seattle WA.  Seumas Gagne will be playing his harp at the Northwest Folklife Festival, on the Northwest Court Stage at the Seattle Center, 1-1:30 pm. Free.

May 27  Seattle WA.  Magical Strings performs (Phil Boulding, harp) at the Northwest Folklife Festival, on the Northwest Court Stage , 5:40-6:10 pm.  Free.

May 31-Jun 1  Spokane WA.  Magical Strings instrument booth (with harps) at Artfest.

JUNE 2013

Jun 1  Burnaby BC.  Seumas Gagne with his harp in the Vancouver and District Gaelic Choir Spring Concert  on Saturday, June 1st, 2013, at 2 pm. Tickets: $15 General, $10 Seniors & students. Contact Roberta 604-433-3326 or email bikerider@telus.net to book tickets. All Saints Anglican Church, 7405 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby BC. More Info at  http://www.vancouvergaelicchoir.org.

Jun 1, 2  Bellingham WA.  Bellingham Highland Games Harp Tent: The Harp & Story tent will be in the same spot by the barn this year, with harp performances at the top of the hour, and storyteller performances at the bottom of the hour. Continuous entertainment all weekend. Harpers and Storytellers of all abilities are welcome to come to the games and enjoy the Harp & Story tent. Participating performers will receive free entrance passes. Harpers please contact Kathie Hardy at 360-319-7081 or harp@celticharp.info. Storytellers please contact Doug Banner at dougbanner@comcast.net.

Jun 6-9  New Orleans LA.  New Orleans Jazz & Pop Harp Weekend, see www.neworleansjazzharp.com.

Jun 7-9  Crystal Mt. WA.  The Puget Sound Folk Harp Society's annual summer retreat. Registration information is available at www.pugetsoundfolkharpsociety.org.

June 7-9  Newport OR.  Magical Strings instrument booth (with harps) at Newport Celtic Festival.

Jun 14-16  Sisters OR.  High Cascade Harp Retreat, at Suttle Lake Methodist Camp, near Sisters, OR. This year, hosts Laura Zaerr and Hilary Smith will be joined by guest presenter Kim Robertson. Registration for the event is $295 (if registered by April 15), which includes room, board, tuition, and materials. Bring extra money for massage therapist, private lesson with Kim, and CD's and books available for purchase. You can obtain a registration form by contacting either Hilary (harpsisters@gmail.com, 541-549-1229) or Laura (laurz@peak.org, 541-757-8313, or see www.laurazaerr.com).

Jun 16  Mountlake Terrace WA.  Third Sunday harp circle meets at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 2-4:30 pm.  All styles and levels welcome; contact Diane at zawamoss@seanet.com for details and directions.

Jun 29-30  Richland WA.  Harper Tasche performs in costume at Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire, at a fantasy village from Elizabethan England among the oaks at Howard Amon park on the banks of the mighty Columbia River. Come hear the buzzy sound of the bray harp and small harp, with multiple performances daily. For more information see www.yemerriegreenwoodfaire.org.

Jun 29-30  Richland WA.  Magical Strings instrument booth and harp performances at Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire, Howard Amon park.

JULY 2013

Jul 18-21  Parsippanny NJ.  Somerset Folk Harp Festival, see www.somersetharpfest.com.

Jul 19-21  Olalla WA.  Magical Strings Summer Harp Camp! For more information or to register, see http://magicalstrings.com/HarpCamp.html.

Jul 28-Aug 10  Vancouver BC.  Canadian International Summer Harp Institute to be held from July 28th - August 10th, 2013, at the Vancouver Academy of Music. CISHI offers an intensive one- to two- week training program for students of all levels. All students receive private lessons, focusing on technique, repertoire and ensemble coaching as well as a variety of special classes including performance preparation, morning stretch, orchestral repertoire, South American rhythms, and improvisation. Co-founders of CISHI are Vancouver Symphony principal harpist Elizabeth Volpé Bligh, and Juno-Award winning harpist Gianetta Baril who spent 16 years performing throughout Europe. They are joined by their own teacher, internationally renowned harpist Judy Loman, whose illustrious career has made her one of the most respected and sought-after teachers worldwide. The brilliant and charming Brazilian harpist  Cristina Braga completes the Faculty, offering her expertise not only as a classically-trained soloist, but also sharing her passion for South American music in two special public workshops. Complete details as well as registration and payment methods are outlined on the CISHI website www.cishi.ca.

AUGUST 2013

Aug 12-16  Wells BC.  27th Annual International Harp School at Island Mountain Arts in Wells BC. This harp school runs concurrently with other music and and art workshops. Beginner Harp will be taught by Sunita Staneslow, Intermediate Harp by Sharlene Wallace, and Advanced Harp by Alys Howe. Registration includes classes, a welcome reception, afternoon outing to historic Barkerville, a dinner and instructor's concert, and final night ceilidh. Early bird registration rates until June 1. For more info and registration, see www.imarts.com.

Aug 15  Seattle WA.  Loreena McKennitt will take the stage at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo as part of their much-anticipated annual summer concert series. It will be the 7th stop on her 8-city Summer Tour. Tickets for the general public go on sale at 8 am on April 26 at http://www.zoo.org/zootunes/ticketinfo.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Sep 15  Seattle WA.  Puget Sound Folk Harp Society's Annual Potluck Picnic in Seattle's Ravenna Park; mark your calendars, details to follow!

Sep 25-29  Spanish Peaks CO. Spanish Peaks International Festival harp offerings are up on the website at www.celticmusicfest.com; instructors Tina Tourin, Park Stickney, Maire ni Chathasaigh; for more information, contact Nancy at 978-369-2712 (EST), ngondal2@gmail.com.

OCTOBER 2013

Oct 4-6  Asheville NC.  Southeastern Harp Weekend, see www.southeasternharps.com.

Oct 25-27  Everett WA.  Harper Tasche presents workshops and a solo concert during the Music-Thanatology Association International Conference, at Providence Medical Center Everett. The conference is open to harp players who are involved in programs specifically using the harp for healing. For more information see www.mtai.org.

This page was last updated on May 02, 2013