Florida Harpers & Friends
Winter 2001 Newsletter
December 1, 2001

Bambi Fischer
Newsletter Editor
fischarper@yahoo.com

Florida Harpers and Friends Sixth Annual Workshop

Concerts

Saturday Evening
Sunday Afternoon

Sounding Boards Live

Stories
Jams
Dancing
Food
FHF Competition

Workshops Include:

• How to Make Harp Lessons Exciting for Young Children
• Harp Therapy I
• Harp Therapy II
• Hospital or Hospice Practicum
• History of the Harp
• Irish Dance Instruction
• Lever harp instruction
• Music Theory for the Theory Impaired

Beginning in the Middle

Submitted by Beth Dolan

  Beginning in the Middle, a seminar geared for the harpist who developed an interest in the harp as an adult, was held at the charming Hospitality House in the heart of old Williamsburg, VA in March. This year was the 4^th “BITM” held, and over 100 participants were treated to a wide array of classes, workshops and concerts. The guest instructors included such renowned harpists as Ray Pool, Jan Jennings, Susan Brady, Elzbieta Szmyt, Sue Richards, the conference’s organizers, M.J. D’Arville of the Virginia Harp Center, and Kimberly Rowe, editor of " Harp Column."
Participants were able to attend instructional classes, play in small ensemble classes, and perform in a wonderful final night concert where 24 harps played together making a truly glorious sound!
  Private lessons were available with all of the guest instructors as well as classes where players could observe lessons being given.
  The seminar was extremely well organized with all classes and events being held on time and providing many opportunities for participants to get to know each other, play together, and form new friendships. All levels of players from beginners to advanced were able to find music to play and purchase. Many vendors were available to help people find harps, music, and a variety of merchandise.
  As a special treat, all of the instructors performed in a marvelous concert at a local church, playing individually and in a harp ensemble.
The total experience of the seminar was truly inspirational to everyone to practice hard, try new music and plan to return next year! What a pleasure it was to be in such a charming location with harps of every possible size and color rolling down every hall and filling every elevator!

  The 2002 seminar will held at the Williamsburg Hospitality House on March 7-10. For further information stay tuned to www.harpcolumn.com
Submitted by: Beth Dolan (Boyd and Beth Dolan were honored by being invited to play harp and flute at the opening night gathering which they really enjoyed!)

Captiva Christian Harpists Retreat

September 5 – 8, 2002
South Seas Plantation
Captiva, Florida
Contact
Bambi Fischer
at fischarper@yahoo.com

Circle News!

Member Vicki Eherhardt hosted a FHF circle at her home
November 11 and it was an intimate party of five with dinner and harp jam session.  There were three FHF members, Melody Anglin and Elaine Schumacker that received fun and fellowship from this gracious dinner.

Also in October,
Melody Anglin hosted a family party for FHF members Elaine Schumacker, Regina Potts, Chris Purdy, Linda Putnam, Julia Hood, and Vicki Eherhardt, and their families. 

 Other FHF Member news: 
Chris Purdy played for the Hospice Tree of Remembrance, Regina Potts landed the role of Museppa in "Gypsy", Linda Putnam has been performing with First Baptist of Daytona's Orchestra for all of their special music events, Vicki Eherhardt plays for Grace Episcopal Church each month and Julia Hood was recently named Conductor for the Sweet Adelines of Daytona Beach. Cameron Huster won third place in the AHS Division One, National Competition and was invited to participate as a Master Class performer the 2001 World Harp Congress in Switzerland.  Cameron studies with FHF member and workshop coordinator Melody Long Anglin

HARPS, HARPS, HARPS AND MORE HARPS EXTRAVAGANZA!

They said we packed 700 people into a 500-seat auditorium and turned away 200+. That is exciting for a concert of harps.

The man who is head of music at Polk Community College told me at the beginning that harp music would never fly in Polk County. He was meaning that it would have to be country or rock. I haven't ever seen a sellout crowd like that for any of those other types of music in our town.

That was exciting for me! We did it with GOOD MUSIC! Maybe the culture is starving for something GOOD!

– Annette Short

FHF Sends Healing Notes to Carole Decker...

One of our FHF members, Carole Decker of Melbourne, lost her husband Earl, Oct 19 after a long battle with cancer. Earl is survived by Carole, his wife of 43 years, sons Bruce, of Parker, Colorado, David and Steven, both of Melbourne; two grandchildren, Jessica and Mitchell of Colorado and three brother, all of Florida.

He was born in East Chicago, Indiana, and moved to Brevard County in Florida in 1985 from Colorado Springs.   He was a retired ordained minister and businessman.  In Melbourne he worked with his son in Deck-Aire, the family air conditioning business.    He was a graduate of the Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, N.Y., with a Bachelor in Theology and for Hillsdale College with a B.A.  For the next 25 years he pastored churches in Michigan, Ohio, Colorado and New York.  He was also a talented golfer and fierce competitor.

Submitted by Vicki Mansur

Harpists in New York

 Submitted by Lourana Howard

I spent the first 16 years of my harping life in New York City, a member of the Metropolitan New York Chapter of the American Harp Society. As an adult beginner, the harp was for me a huge gift, blessing, and challenge. Full of doubts and fears, uncertainties and feelings of inadequacy, playing the harp gave me confidence in abilities, my hope, and myself for a better future. Because I had the dexterity to play the harp, I found confidence to change successfully to word processing as a living. 

While in New York City, I had the privilege of meeting some of the finest harpists in the world, in many different fields. Our chapter meetings included presentations by Eleanor Fell and Ray Pool, playing their individual inimitable styles of jazz harp. Classical harpist presenters included Kathleen Bride, Nancy and Barbara Allen, Sarah Bullen, Lynn Aspnes, principal harpists of the New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more. I felt so honored to be able to talk with and listen to some of the finest harpists in the world. 

So much music happened in the World Trade Center, especially at holiday times. Inside, outside, and in the concourse underground, there would be scheduled groups playing, as well as street musicians, including harpists, playing impromptu.

The first time I heard Kathleen Bride was a noontime program at St. Paul’s Chapel, a historic church located just one block away from the WTC. Fortunately, St. Paul’s Chapel was not damaged, and the music programs there probably will continue (I don’t know what the new security situation is like). But New Yorkers and visitors will miss the opportunity to listen to music with such a feeling of community as occurred at the World Trade Center.

IN MEMORY OF THE TRAGEDY IN AMERICA ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!