I like to think I’m not your stereotypical
harpist.
I love it when people come up to me and exclaim,
“Wow! I didn’t know you could do that on a harp!”
Fast and funky Celtic with a slap bass, sultry Latin rhythms, romantic
classical, jammin’ rock’n’roll, contemporary pieces
from the radio, Broadway standards, movie themes... the more styles the
better, and my favorites are the ones you don’t hear every day.
My style is sassy and unorthodox; my philosophy is that if you’re
not having fun, you’re doing it wrong!
How did I develop this unusual approach? Probably
because I didn’t become a harpist via the usual channels.
There’s a lot of creative freedom in coming at something from an
unexpected direction.
Growing up I lived in England, Singapore, and
Upstate New York, but spent most of my life up until college near
London, England, playing piano practically since birth and surrounded
by the omnipresent Celtic music and history of the UK. There were harps
everywhere, I just didn’t own one! I studied music from the time
I was very small and continued with piano through to adulthood, playing
both as a soloist and with a variety of choral groups. I learned to
play by ear as well as reading music, and to this day I’m
fortunate enough to be able to play many things by ear and develop
arrangements on the spot. I also developed a passion for writing and
arranging my own tunes.
My interests didn’t lie solely in music,
however. Owning a horse and competing with him across the south of
England taught me to be reasonably fearless, which is apparently a
requirement for taking up the harp later on in life (which I’m
told is not generally “the done thing”)! I’ve got a
knack as an illustrator, and came to Rochester, New York to pursue my
degree in Medical Illustration from The Rochester Institute of
Technology. After graduation I began a career in medical art,
advertising design and graphics, working for several large public
relations firms and illustrating many books and projects. I kept active
with piano the whole time, but I really wanted to play... the harp.
I married my husband, Bob, and after my first child
was born, I convinced him to let me have a bash at it (the harp, not
the child). (How did I do it? I threatened to teach myself the bagpipes
if he said no... feel free to try this with your own spouse.) It was an
instant and easy transition for me, and soon harp took front and center
as weddings and performances of all sorts started presenting
themselves. I now credit Bob with being a Great Patron of the Arts for
taking that risk all those years ago!
Now, I play harp all over Central and Western New
York on both Concert Grand Pedal harp and Celtic Lever Harp. I do all
kinds of events: weddings, cocktail & dinner hours, corporate
events, private parties, restaurant work, hospital work (as an
MHTP-Certified Music Practitioner), solo concerts, chamber music, and
more. I am on the preferred performer lists for many of the
area’s top-notch resorts, hotels, wedding destinations, and elite
clients. I play about 60 weddings a year and many additional
assorted events.
I’m still active as an illustrator and
designer, and I regularly teach in the College of Fine Arts at The
Rochester Institute of Technology, mostly working with future medical
illustrators and graphic designers.
Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats:
horseback riding instructor, New York State Emergency Medical
Technician, medical illustrator, art director, pianist, harpist, wife,
mother, and teacher. And each those those things has brought something
to the music.
Bob and I have two children and several dogs, all
of whom are great fans of harp music.
