Tag: Celtic harps

2024 Heart of the Valley Harp Retreat

Julia Kay Jamieson is an energetic performer, dedicated teacher, innovative composer and award-winning harpist. Julia has been a featured concert artist, clinician and composer for events including the Canadian International Summer Harp Institute, the Festival de Cuerdas in Puerto Rico, and the annual Harp Day in Eugene, Oregon. She has been commissioned to write several harp ensemble pieces including Sea for the Illinois Summer Harp Class and Creatures for the High Cascade Harp Retreat. An advocate for new music, she is chair of the American Harp Society Young Composers Project and is the principal harpist of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.  She is the author of The Young at Harp, a method book for beginning harpists and has given improvisation, arranging, and creative teaching workshops throughout the US and Canada. Julia studied with Jocelyn Chang (Cleveland, OH), Susann McDonald (Indiana University) and Ann Yeung (University of Illinois).  Check out Julia’s website at https://www.juliakayjamieson.com.

Laura Zaerr continues to pursue her interest in Celtic music and jazz alongside her classical music.  She has taught both pedal harp and Celtic harp at the University of Oregon for 18 years. Over the past 25 years Laura has produced several solo CDs featuring original compositions and arrangements of Celtic tunes as well as recording collaboratively with various musical groups including The Oregon Renaissance Band, Village Green, Chuva Boa (Latin jazz), and Trilogy.  She is currently a member of a cross over band Compass Rose. She has gained national recognition for her Celtic Concerto, a suite for Celtic harp with orchestra featuring seven traditional Irish tunes.  Her original and innovative harp arrangements meld together a rich heritage of classical technique with the buoyancy and charm of Celtic styling.  Laura also enjoys singing with Kitchen Ceilidh, an a-capella women’s Gaelic singing group based in Eugene.  Laura plays her harp for Hospice in the Corvallis area and maintains a private teaching studio.

Julia and Laura are co-conspirators of the American Harp Society Young Composer’s Project which encourages young harpists to step out into the world of radical creativity.  They have collaborated on several workshop events include Harp Day at the University of Oregon and the Cascades Harp Retreat.  Together Laura and Julia create an atmosphere where ideas can grow and flourish.   Julia and Laura are each writing a harp duo on the theme of “Out of this World” to premier at the Sunday afternoon concert.   You can come for Friday through Sunday or just for the Saturday workshops if you would like.  We are also pleased to offer a movement class by cellist and Zumba teacher Sabine Monn.  You can check out her site at https://www.missswissbliss.com.   She will also join us for one of the improvisation workshops.  We will have some time for harp ensemble playing.  (Music provided ahead of time)    We will also explore ways to arrange a Celtic tune or two.  Sharon and Dave Thormahlen are offering a tour of their legendary harp building studio.  If you don’t already know about Corvallis Oregon’s harp building treasure check out Thormahlen harps at https://www.thorharp.com. 

Heart of Valley harp retreat 2024 registration form

Harps in Sisters

Laura Zaerr and Hilary Smith team up once again for an eclectic evening of  harps, cellos, flutes, and more.  Celtic, jazz, classical.

Laura Zaerr, Corvallis harpist
Rebecca Hilary Smith, Sisters harpist
ArpeggiEight Harp Ensemble from Cascade School of Music , Bend
Renaissance Sisters Recorder Ensemble
Celli Belly Cello Ensemble from Cascade School of Music , Bend
Julie Cash, Sisters vocalist

Proceeds benefit:

Sisters Opportunities for Unified Living (S.O.U.L.)
a non-profit established to enable disabled Sisters youth to live in their community as adults
Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
68825 Brooks Camp Road, Sisters OR   98759
Enjoy the swirling timbres of harps, celli, recorders, flutes, and vocals all blended together to enhance your summer evening. Savor the haunting flavor of a Scottish lament, following the robust zing of an Irish jig, or a succulent jazz standard. Be surprised by an original or a wild improvisation. Allow the charm of blended flavors to work it’s magic on your musical palate.

 

Two Harps Dancing

Celtic harpists Hilary Smith and Laura Zaerr team up for a magical evening of Celtic, Renaissance, rock and more.  Special guests Ben and Kai Frueh, fiddle and keyboard.

Laura with folk harp

 

Hilary Smith has been a professional harpist and teacher for over 25 years, bringing warmth and experience to all her musical endeavors.   A Central Oregon native, her education and travels have enlivened her repertoire with music of many different times and places. She comes to us this weekend from Sisters where she lives and teaches.  https://centraloregonharpist.com/

Over the past 30 years Laura Zaerr has delved into various styles of music: Renaissance band, Baroque Italian Triple harp, Single action pedal harp, Medieval single row harp, and most recently Brazilian jazz.  She has recorded several CDs featuring her own compositions and arrangements.  She enriches the lives of others with her work for Hospice and at the hospital.

Laura and Hilary met as students at the University of Oregon.  Since the early 80’s they have shared a love of Celtic music while also exploring an eclectic range of other repertoire.  In the 90s, the two classically trained musicians honed their Celtic arranging skills as partners in the Corvallis-based band Village Green, This was interrupted in the mid-90’s when Hilary moved to Hawaii, where she enjoyed a whole new way of life.  We are thankful she has returned to her roots in Central Oregon.  Laura and Hilary also co-organize a harp retreat in Central Oregon in the summer.The two harps weave a rich tapestry of bygone ages and far away places, mingled with the freshness of popular tunes and classical finesse. Laura and Hilary both play harps built by local renown builder Dave Thormahlen.  http://thorharp.com/

Ben and Kai Frueh will be joining the duo.  Check out Ben’s amazing violin at https://youtu.be/WGchYo4MyXg

 

Please make a reservation by e-mail, lauraz@peak.org, or call 541-908-2077.

 

Cascades Retreat

Once again Suttle Lake will be host to the Cascades Harp Retreat.  We welcome back Rim Robertson, and welcome anew Phil Neuman and Gayle Neuman.

PHIL AND GAYLE NEUMAN are well known throughout the world for their extensive knowledge of Early Music; Ancient Greek, Sumerian, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Victorian era, you name it. Not only do they study and perform but also build their own early music instruments.  Phil and Gayle Neuman have been featured in Turkey, Japan, and even in movies. (That’s right, Ben Hur and Buddymoon.) They are members of The Trail Band and direct the Oregon Renaissance Band and Ensemble De Organographia. The Neumans have taught music history at Portland State
University and Linfield College, and present concerts and workshops throughout the country. With their vast store of expertise Phil and Gayle will add an element of historic context to the Cascade Harp Retreat. They will also lead harp ensembles incorporating their own brand of Renaissance style. We are looking forward to this “historic” collaboration; Folk Harp Meets Early Music.


KIM ROBERTSON is a well-known performer, arranger and pioneer of the N. American folk harp movement.  Classically trained on piano and orchestral harp, her discovery of the Celtic harp in the mid-70’s set her upon the path of exploration for which she is now widely known. She brings a contemporary touch to a centuries-old instrument with her expressive renditions of traditional music and original compositions. Recognized as a skilled performer and insightful teacher, her numerous recordings, arrangements and live appearances have brought her a loyal following. She regularly tours the USA  and Canada with an international itinerary of concerts, workshops and retreats.

HeartStrings at Good Samaritan

As part of my work through ArtsCare I have been presenting free interactive harp concerts for cancer survivors and friends and families. These free concerts are also open to the public. I am honored to share this opportunity with Lisa Lynne. We generally play for about a half an hour and then the harps get passed out and everyone learns some basic harp tunes together. There is no musical experience necessary. It is free but you need to make a reservation so if you’d like to join us email skrainik@samhealth.org. If you have questions about the workshop email me.