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 MID ATLANTIC REGION NEWSLETTER |
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National News
42nd National Conference in Atlanta  The Georgia Chapter is proud to host the 42nd National Conference in Atlanta, next June 30 - July 3, 2016 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel. The AHS National Conference is dedicated to bringing world class presenters and performers to Atlanta to captivate the next generation of harpists and to develop the talents and careers of our current members. Please join us for dynamic concerts and workshops, and to enjoy true southern hospitality with friends old and new. Please check www.harpsociety.org/ConferenceInstitute/2016Conference
often for updates on the program, schedule, housing and registration.
AHS Concert Artist
Congratulations to the 2015-2017 AHS Concert Artist, Katherine Siochi! Local chapters have a wonderful opportunity to invite Katherine to give a recital and masterclass in their region. Consider a chapter event that would support this talented harpist and enrich your local community! For more information about the program and Katherine please visit: www.harpsociety.org/About/Programs/ConcertArtist.
Membership
Have you renewed your membership for 2016-2017? The new membership year began September 1st. Don't miss the wonderful upcoming winter issue of The American Harp Journal, or miss out on grant opportunities, insurance discounts, national e-newsletters and much more by letting your membership lapse. It's easy to renew online today at www.harpsociety.org/Membership/JoinRenew.
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Washington DC Chapter
District of Columbia
Officers: Anastasia Pike, President; Michaela Trnkova, Vice President; Elizabeth Blakeslee, Treasurer; and David Crookston, Secretary
Chapter Member News
On September 23, Melissa Dvorak performed at the mass for Pope Francis in DC at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of The Catholic University of America. All of the music, the Canonization Mass by Junipera Serra, was newly composed or arranged for the occasion.
Summer Music Day Camp for Band, Harp and Strings for ages 11-15 will be held July 11-15, 2016 in Alexandria, VA. Harp students have opportunity to play with strings, band and in harp ensemble and take fun elective courses. Melissa Dvorak is the Harp Instructor. www.alexandria-band.org/summer-camp
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Charm City (Baltimore) Chapter Maryland
Officers: Julia Martin Frazier, President; Lori Peters, Vice President; Jacqueline Pollauf, Secretary; Stephen Belcher, Treasurer Chapter Member News Jacqueline Pollauf's upcoming season highlights include performances with flutist Marcia Kamper and violist Karin Brown at Second Presbyterian Church on November 22 2015, and a performance for Musical Arts International on May 29, 2016. Jacqueline will also be featured on First and Franklin's Candlelight series on December 13, 2015. |
North Jersey Chapter
New Jersey
Officers: Odarka Stockert, President; Faye Fishman, Vice President; Marie Sass, Treasurer; Nia Pierce, Secretary
The North Jersey Chapter held its annual meeting/pot luck dinner on October 19 at the home of Marie Sass. They welcomed former and new members, and discussed upcoming harp events. After a delicious dinner, attendees had a chance to improvise on
Odarka Stockert's electric harp using myriad effects pedals.
On January 10, 2016, The North Jersey Chapter presents a master class with Merynda Adams in Caldwell, NJ (time/details TBD). In May, students will perform at the Chapter's annual Gala concert.
Chapter Member News
On Monday, November 2 at 7:30 pm Harpist Merynda Adams, accompanied by a string quartet, presents a chamber music concert to benefit America's Grow-A-Row, a charity dedicated to providing fresh produce to those in need. On the program are the Handel Concerto for Harp in Bb; Debussy's Danses sacr�e et profane; and Grandjany's Aria in Classic Style and Rhapsodie. The concert will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940 Free will donations accepted at the door.
Diane Michaels presents a solo recital exploring Salzedo's career as a harpist, teacher, and composer. The recital, in Berkeley Heights on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 is part of the Salon Series of faculty recitals, which offer wine and cheese in addition to music. For ticket information, visit The Wharton Institute of Performing Arts.
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Central Pennsylvania Chapter
Pennsylvania
Officers: Christina Rombouts, President; Anne Sullivan, Vice President; Barbara Weller Crain, Secretary/Treasurer In October, the Central Pennsylvania Chapter conducted a short business meeting, followed by a performance by six students. Thanks to a donation, the Chapter will expand its student scholarship program, awarding two scholarships this year. The enthusiastic response of their members and the success of the event last year has set in motion plans for another "Harps Galore" concert this spring. Last May they held the first harp ensemble concert in the area in many years, and it was a very well attended, well-received performance with over a dozen harpists performing under the direction of Anne Sullivan. |
Philadelphia Chapter
Pennsylvania
Officers: Danielle Bash, President; Elizabeth Huston, Vice President; Nichole Rohrbach, Secretary; Cheryl Dungan Cunningham, Treasurer The Philadelphia Chapter is honored to be the 2014-2015 Chapter of the Year, as awarded by the American Harp Society, Inc. Details about how they earned this distinction can be found on the AHS website. The Chapter will present internationally known harpist Floraleda Sacchi for a master class and concert on November 19 at the Settlement Music School, 416 Queen Street. The master class is
scheduled for 5:00pm. Space is limited and is offered on a first come, first served basis. The concert is at 8:00pm. For more information or to sign up for the master class, please email president@phillyharp.org
Plans for other Chapter events include Auditions & Evaluations on April 2 and June 11, 2016, Philly Harp Day, Philadelphia Chapter Recital, social events, education workshops, a harpist volunteer program, performances by guest artists, and a partnership with Vanderbilt for the annual student competition. Stay tuned for more information!
Chapter Member News
Settlement Harp Faculty member Elizabeth Steiner and Settlement alumna Emily Botel presented an evening of solo harp repertoire and transcriptions for harp and violin duo on Thursday, October 22. The concert featured works by Boulanger, Debussy, Grandjany, Hasselmans, Piazzolla, Sibelius, and Vaughan Williams.
Sunday, October 25 and Thursday, October 29, the Halloween Harps Spook-tacula! featuring Professor Harpalot (aka Janet Whitman) and her Troupe of Harpalots with special guest, Count Tubalot returned to Centennial Mill in Vorhees, NJ and Country House in Wilmington, DE to present their hilarious Halloween show for residents and friends of the community.
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Pittsburgh Chapter
Pennsylvania Officers: Craig Johnson, President and Treasurer; Melanie Sandrock, Vice President; William Van Patten, Secretary
In Memoriam
The Pittsburgh chapter is sorry to note that Elizabeth "Beth" Waldron recently passed away. Beth was a founding member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the AHS in 1978, and she was a strong supporter of the AHS on the national and local levels over the years. She will be greatly missed. Her obituary may be read here. Chapter Events
The Chapter presents its Holiday Ensemble Concert on December 5 at 3:00pm at PPG Wintergarden in downtown Pittsburgh. Walter Morales, Music Director of the Edgewood Symphony, will conduct. The music is available; and as always, includes selections for all levels of players. They are excited to be playing some brand-new arrangements by Gary Schocker and Christine Mazza, as well as some old favorites. All chapter members are welcome to perform in the concert; however, you must attend at least one rehearsal, preferably two. Rehearsals will be in CMU's Alumni Concert Hall from 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Sunday, November 29, 2015 and Wednesday, December 2, 2015. You may leave your harp in the secure harp studio between rehearsals. For more information, reply to billvanpatten@gmail.com. Tiffany Concert Series - Flute and Harp Fantasy - March 13, 2016, 4pm Chapter members will be performing along with members of the Pittsburgh Flute Club and the Flute Academy on the Tiffany Concert Series at Calvary United Methodist Church, 971 Beech Avenue, on Pittsburgh's North Side, continuing their long-time partnership with the Tiffany series in collaboration with our flutist colleagues. More information will be available soon, but members interested in performing in an ensemble (with or without flutes) on this concert should contact Craig Johnson or Bill Van Patten as soon as possible. Preference will be given to larger ensembles.
Chapter Member News
Congratulations to Jadelyn Ding, Jessica Ding and Sophia Suha Lee, all students of Gretchen Van Hoesen, who placed in the AHS Competition held June 21 - 24, 2015 in Logan, UT.
Alexis Balog, student of Lucy Scandrett, performed the first movement of the Handel Concerto at the Lyon and Healy Summer Concert Series in July.
On October 16, 17 and 18 Gretchen Van Hoesen performed the Ginastera Concerto for Harp and Orchestra with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall, Jan Pascal Tortelier, conducting. The PSO arranged a special discount for Chapter members and friends.
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Southwest Virginia Chapter
Virginia Officers: Colleen Potter Thorburn, President; Kara Baumann, Vice President; Renee Rippe, Secretary-Treasurer The Southwest Virginia chapter started its second year of activities on Sept 13 with a meet-and-greet at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, followed by Harrisonburg-area harpist Virginia Bethune's concert. Upcoming events include a master class and a concert by Grace Bauson and Elizabeth Kennedy, flutist, at Virginia Tech on Nov 15; a holiday harp extravaganza at the Alexander Black Museum and Cultural Center in Blacksburg on Dec 5; student auditions and evaluations in March and April; and a chapter recital in Roanoke on 23. For information about participating in any of our events, contact swvaharpsociety@gmail.com.
Chapter Member News
Colleen Potter Thorburn graduated from the Yale School of Music in May 2015 with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in harp. She started harp teaching positions at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and Liberty University this fall. Colleen was also honored to be an invited guest clinician and performer at the Virginia Harp Center's RVA Harp Day in September. Julia Fallon performed music for artist Susan Hensley's exhibit "9 Yards of Beach" at the Alexander Black Museum and Cultural Center in Blacksburg throughout the month of September. This was a collaborative project that also involved graphic designer Jill Darlington-smith and audio/video manager John Danyi. Virginia Bethune continues her activities as Area Coordinator for the Music for Healing and Transition Program in Harrisonburg (central), VA. Modules will be held again in June and August 2016. See www.mhtp.org for further information. Her first "MUSAIC: A Sampler of Music" benefit concert occurred in Sept. in Blacksburg; two more are scheduled in Harrisonburg in Sept 2016.
Mark Martin was interviewed and performed live on West Virginia Public Radio on January 28 with harpist Laura Hoffman. Mark, Laura and clarinetist Garrett Maner are performing a concert on Sunday, February 15 at 7 pm in Cross Lanes, West Virginia featuring works by Bach, Faur�, and John Rutter, as well as The Bluefield Suite and a new suite for clarinet and harp by Mark Martin. Mark also played Dan Forrest's "Requiem for the Living" this past spring in Charleston, WV. The Charleston Civic Chorus will premiere Mark's new work, "A Christmas Suite," at their December 2015 concert. |
Tidewater Chapter
Virginia Officers: Barbara Chapman, President; Elisa Dickon, Vice President; Vince Zentner, Secretary The Tidewater Chapter is planning a November Adult Social and "White Elephant" music exchange. In January, they will present their Youth Showcase. |
Morgantown Chapter
West Virginia
Officers: Cindy Lewellen, President; Christine Mazza, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer On Monday, August 31, the Morgantown Harp Ensemble (the Chapter's performance arm) played a Concert at St Mary Roman Catholic Church to benefit St Ursula food pantry and outreach center. Concert repertoire includes arrangements by Diane Michaels and Christine Mazza. Morgantown Harp Ensemble is performing a December 13 Concert at Christ Episcopal Church in Fairmont, WV. The ensemble performs monthly concerts for the Village at Heritage Point Retirement Community. Members include Brittany Blair, Leah Bonsall, Carolyn Kerr, Cindy Lewellen, Brooke Maxwell, Asa Roach, and Katie Sutton with Christine Mazza, director. The Chapter presented Paraguayan harpist, Nicolas Carter in a solo recital and harp workshop on October 15 at the WVU School of Music. Additional sponsors included Harping for Harmony (John Lozier), WVU World Music (Michael Vercelli), the WVU School of Music String Area Department. Chapter Member News Harpists Brittany Blair and Asa Roach performed concerts with the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra on October 1 and perform again on November 19. In addition, Brittany will play "This Little Babe," from Britten Ceremony of Carols for the December 6 WVU Choral Concert. She is also performing harp for Kiss Me Kate WVU opera department production. Kacey Mihoces performed Joel Puckett Avelynn's Lullaby on the Oct 6 Concert with WVU Wind Symphony. Katie Sutton will be performing Movement I of Vivaldi Concerto in D Major for Harp and String Orchestra with the Westmoreland County Community College Orchestra on December 11. Harpists Leah Bonsall, Brittany Blair, Brooke Maxwell and Katie Sutton will perform for the WVU Community Orchestra Concert on Sunday December 6. (Yes, that 4 harpists in one orchestra!) |
FOR SALE
Long-time Pittsburgh Chapter member Faith Stenning honored the Chapter in her will by donating her harps. The Chapter Board determined the most meaningful way to celebrate Faith's memory was establishing a Harp Study Scholarship Fund, using proceeds from the sale of her instruments as the initial capital. Two harps have been sold; however, we are looking for a good home for the final harp. For more information, please contact Craig Johnson at 412-720-3158 or craig.johnson3158@gmail.com. Natural Lyon & Healy Pedal, Style 22, 46 strings. Manufactured in 1946
Gold-leafed Lyon & Healy Pedal, Style 17, 46 strings Manufactured in 1956
Gold-leafed Lyon & Healy, Style 14, 43 strings Manufactured 1941
All three harps were regulated by Venus Harps in Chicago in Spring 2015. Contact morgan.pappas7@gmail.com or (914) 224-5092 |
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