SPECIAL GUESTS from the 2023 Conference
Frank Voltz / Featured Artist
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Frank Voltz is a multi-talented musician; a concert artist on piano, harp, and organ; an accomplished composer and arranger; and a highly respected clinician and teacher.
Frank began playing the piano at age 7 and graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance. He has been accompanist for many of the foremost Ballet companies in the nation. Frank began playing the organ in church at age 11. He has performed organ recitals around the country and has performed on the original "Hour of Power" at the Crystal Cathedral and organist for the National Christian Choir. Frank presented a solo concert, “Christmas at the Coleman,” on harp, piano, and “The Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ (1928) in Miami, OK. As a Director of Music and versatile church musician, Frank possesses experience in traditional as well as Contemporary Christian music. He has conducted vocal choirs, handbell choirs, and orchestras; directed and produced musical productions; arranged choral and orchestral music; and produced a nationally-syndicated Christian television program. |
Angi Bemiss
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Angi Bemiss became a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) in January 1998. Since then, as a therapeutic musician, she has provided thousands of hours of live therapeutic music to create a healing environment. She plays the harp at the bedside and in the medical departments of hospitals, plus in hospice, memory-care, and home settings. In addition, she regularly plays for weddings, church services, and community events. She is also a popular workshop presenter at harp conferences across the country. In April 2020, she completed the IHTP course of study and is also now a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner (CTHP).
Angi has been a musician for most of her life. She studied the piano beginning at the age of 6 and was a church pianist for many years. (Her first piano teacher was her mother, pictured above.) During her school years she also played other instruments, including the flute, oboe, and guitar. Kevin and Angi met in high school band in Satellite Beach, FL. In 1989, Kevin surprised her with a harp (and lessons) for their 10th wedding anniversary. It was at this point that her life as a musician took a meaningful turn. With the harp, Angi realized that she would have the opportunity to quietly serve others with the peaceful and unique sound that comes from its strings. Almost from the beginning, it was her desire to play the harp in hospitals. Kevin and Angi have lived in Atlanta since 1992, and Kevin is a retired nurse. He worked at Northside Hospital for many years, and Angi has played there for over 20 years! In 2019, Angi retired as a partner and CFO of a management consulting firm. (She has a BS in Business Education and an MBA.) |
Laura Logan Brandenburg
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Laura Logan Brandenburg, DMA, served as Harp Instructor on the Texas Christian University School of Music faculty from 2001-2020. In addition, she maintained an active pre-college studio through the TCU Music Prep Department, teaching Suzuki harp students age five through young adult. She currently coaches private students of all ages in her home studio. A highly regarded freelance harpist, Laura enjoys a wide variety of collaborative performance opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She was a frequent sub with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for over thirty years, and has most recently served as Principal Harp with the Lewisville Lake Symphony. She held the position of Principal Harp with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra from 1990 – 2010 as well as Principal Harp in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic from 1995 - 1997. She is founder, director and member of the Octavia Harp Ensemble, performing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond for more than twenty-five years. Laura delights in performing with Cindy Horstman and Kimberly DeRosa as The Dallas Jazz Harp Ensemble, presenting concerts and educational programs of original tunes and jazz standards arranged for harp trio. Other adventures on harp include collaborating with Jeff Walters as The Logan/Walters Harp Duo, performing all original transcriptions and arrangements for two harps. Partnering with flutist Don Bailey, their new recording entitled Hypnosis was released in 2022 on the Albany label. The CD features works from standard flute and harp repertoire as well as fresh new transcriptions, and has been hailed as “sparkling,” “charming,” and “entrancing.”
Active as a camp clinician promoting harp ensemble repertoire, Laura presents workshops locally and nationally for several organizations. She has been honored to serve in various positions on the American Harp Society Board of Directors. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of Harp in Worship Conference, Inc. and is Chair of the Harp in Worship Conference to take place in Fort Worth, Texas June 22-26, 2023. Laura is married to Allen Brandenburg, R.N., who retired from the Veterans Administration Hospital after 28 years. She considers her greatest life’s work to be her two sons, Ethan and Luke, who fell asleep to the sound of harp music every night and never once complained. |
Kimberly Snaufer DeRosa
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Kimberly Snaufer DeRosa is a concert and recording artist, instructor, freelance performer,
composer and founding director of Houston Summer Harp Festival and Harp Journeys. She has performed in the US, Canada and Australia, appearing as Guest Artist for Northern Colorado Harp Festival, Beauty of the Harp, numerous chapters of the American Harp Society and at the American Harp Society Summer Institute. Ms. DeRosa is an exceptionally versatile musician and known for her “stunningly beautiful” expression. As a leading free-lance musician for over 30+ years, she remains in high demand as a soloist for recitals, event playing and as an orchestral and church performer. Her orchestral experience is vast and includes, among many others, occasions with Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet, Theatre Under The Stars, Dallas Wind Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony and Opera in Concert and celebrity concerts with the Moody Blues, Ray Charles, Bernadette Peters and Frank Sinatra, Jr. She is a member of the Dallas Jazz Harp Ensemble. As a dedicated and active instructor, Ms DeRosa nurtures the love for music and the harp while developing self-expression and building confidence and polish in students of all ages and levels. She is passionate about encouraging fellowship amongst harpists and elevating the performers’ and audiences’ experience. Ms. DeRosa completed her graduate work at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto under the direction of Judy Loman and a BM at Southern Methodist University under the direction of Susan Dederich-Pejovich. She is a lifetime member of the American Harp Society where she has served on both the national and local levels. CD recordings: Tidings of Joy (Christmas selections with guest musicians) and Zero Hour (Spanish and South American music, harp with guitar). Current recording project focuses on reflective music and includes her original compositions. |
Vicki Garcia
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Vicki will be giving the Saturday morning Devotional.
Vicki Garcia was drawn to the harp at a young age because of its significance in Scripture. She has played regularly in churches for the past thirty years. She currently plays harp with the Suncoast Symphony and the Tampa Bay Harp Ensemble, and plays piano for local big bands. She stays very active playing for local events and teaching harp and piano out of her home in Clearwater, Florida. Vicki has been a long time board member and supporter of the Harp in Worship Conference. |
Reverend Dr. Larry George
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Reverend Larry George will be giving the Friday morning Devotional
After being reared in the small Texas town of Iowa Park, Larry earned degrees from Texas Tech University (B.B.A. in business education), Candler School of Theology at Emory University (Master of Divinity), and Perkins School of Theology at SMU (Doctor of Ministry). In 2017, Larry retired after 47 years of active ministry from Zimbabwe to Denton, Dallas to Nigeria, and Duncanville to Greenville to Wichita Falls. While serving as the superintendent of the former Dallas-Denton District, Larry had the great privilege of being a student of Dr. Laura Brandenburg. He continues in community service as a board member of the Methodist Dallas Medical Center, the Turtle Creek Chorale, and the Synergy Wesley student ministry at UT-Dallas. Larry and his wife Mickey have been married 53 years and are "Mom & Dad" to two daughters and sons-in-law and "Meme & Papa" to four grandchildren. Mickey’s career was in education as a specialist in gifted and talented education. They now live in Dallas. |
Peggy Graff
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Peggy Graff is in her eleventh year as full-time Organist and Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts at First United Methodist Church – Fort Worth. She earned her BME degree with piano emphasis at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and her MSM degree with organ emphasis at Southern Methodist University and Perkins School of Theology in Dallas.
Peggy is currently Dean of the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, also having served two terms as Sub-Dean, and as Professional Certification Coordinator. She also served two terms as Festival Chair for the Greater Dallas Handbell Association. During the last thirteen years of a 31-year career teaching music, Peggy was a choral director at Birdville High School and instructed the AP Music Theory course. She now enjoys her role as a collaborative accompanist for various high schools in the area and adjudicates at UIL contests. Peggy is married to Chuck, a retired United Methodist pastor. They are proud parents of two grown children, Sonia and Jonathan, and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Missy, their two-year-old labradoodle, is a much-loved and loyal member of the family. |
Elizabeth Hames
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Elizabeth Hames is a Fort Worth based musician/music teacher. She earned both her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from Texas Christian University, where she also studied piano, harp, voice, and organ. Elizabeth currently serves as the lower division choral director at Texas Academy of Faith and Arts and the music ministry coordinator at Grace Community Presbyterian Church. She regularly accompanies instrumentalists and singers and plays for special events on the harp and piano.
In addition, she is an active composer and arranger, writing for a variety of instrumentations. She and a colleague are co-founders of an independent music publishing firm, EM Music Publishing, which focuses on providing pedagogical materials for music teachers and students. Elizabeth has created several outstanding harp ensemble arrangements for Harp in Worship, including a newly commissioned arrangement of "Let All Things Now Living" for the 2023 conference. |
Cindy Horstman
Michael Medina
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Cindy Horstman has been performing, recording, writing, and arranging for the past four decades. Classically trained, she is the first recipient of a Master of Music degree in harp performance from the University of Texas at Austin and a prize winner in the Lyon & Healy International Jazz Harp Competition.
Cindy co-founded the jazz duo, “2tone”, with bassist Michael Medina, the producer of 2tone's 10 CDs. 2tone has toured nationally for 25 years and their recordings have received critical acclaim on Amazon.com and CD Baby. Horstman’s jazz theory workbook for harpists and her jazz-oriented arrangements and award-winning compositions for harp ensembles are very popular with harpists both nationally and internationally, becoming best sellers on the Harp Column Music website. For the past 10 years, Cindy has enjoyed being the Music Director for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Dallas, Texas where she leads the congregation in singing hymns and liturgy for weekly worship services and creates her own sacred arrangements for the harp to complement each service. Cindy is also the founder, director, composer, and arranger of The Dallas Jazz Harp Ensemble and the 13 member Brookhaven College Harp Ensemble in Dallas, Texas. In both ensembles, she emphasizes arranging and improvising within the jazz idiom. Michael Medina, a native of Beeville, Texas, moved to Dallas in 1978 and graduated from the University of North Texas. Michael owns "First Bass Productions", a recording production company that produces projects for a wide variety of artists including 2tone’s CDs. In addition to his work with Horstman, Medina has done extensive studio work, national and local television and radio spots, and recordings and performances with various artists including Luis Conte, Andy Timmons, Ignacio Berroa, Alex Acuna (Weather Report ), Edgar Winter, Gregg Bissonette, and Lou Marini. Michael’s most recent project is performing, recording, and co-producing with the Redd Coats – a band consisting of Medina, Andy Timmons, and Gregg and Matt Bissonette. The Redd Coats recently released their first CD and appeared on the front cover of the International Journal of the American Federation of Musicians. Michael is part of the research and development team at Mesa Boogie involved in creating and perfecting amplifiers for the bass guitar and is currently teaching Audio Engineering at Collin College. |
Dallas Jazz Harp Ensemble
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The Dallas Jazz Harp Ensemble, under the direction of composer, arranger, and harpist Cindy Horstman, is a group of professional musicians that explore jazz based music in an ensemble setting. Cindy is joined by harpists Laura Logan Brandenburg and Kimberly Snaufer DeRosa, and bassist Michael Medina.
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Megan Metheney
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Arizona-born harpist Megan Metheney strives to provide an amazing musical experience, be it an audience of one or one hundred. Her playing is inspired by the unique sound of the instrument- its resonance, its possibilities, and its sacred voice. Megan collaborates regularly with musicians and artistic groups on the French Riviera and plays solo in a variety of styles and genres, using Celtic, pedal, and electric harps.
Megan's 2014 album Bernard's Christmas featuring music by French composer Bernard Andrès was deemed "gorgeous" by Harp Column Magazine, with the published arrangements to follow in 2016. Megan collaborated with vocalist/percussionist Rebekah West to create and record original music from a tiny chapel where she lives in Cabris, France, resulting in the 2015 album Les Audides. Her composition "Mon Souffle" for harp and cello was premiered at the American Harp Society National Conference in 2022. In addition, "Elles" for harp and piano was premiered at the Harpissima festival in Monaco in 2022. Megan teaches in her private studio as well as the Conservatoire de Musique in Cannes. http://www.meganmetheney.com/ |
Bonnie Mohr
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Bonnie Mohr earned a Master's in Music: Harp Performance from Azusa Pacific University where she taught harp. She has worked as a professional harpist in the Los Angeles Area for more than 30 years. Bonnie has performed internationally in Japan and Germany. She received her Certification as a Therapeutic Harpist through Compassionate Harps and works at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Bonnie is the chairperson of The Harp in Worship Conference. Her publications, Colorful Adventures on the Harp, Mohr Adventures Book II and Colorful Christmas Carols are a popular teaching series. Harp recordings include: Song in the Night, Around the Christmas Tree, and Pearl.
For more about Bonnie Mohr visit: http://harpsongmusic.com/ |
Rebecca Moritzky
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Rebecca Moritzky has played the harp for 24 years. She performs regularly across the Denver Metro and Colorado Front Range area. She obtained her Harp Performance degree from the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver, and a second degree in Worship Arts from Colorado Christian University. Rebecca is the principal harpist for the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lakewood Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and John Prine at Red Rocks Amphitheater. She plays with the worship team at Faith Bible Chapel South. Rebecca has played for over 500 weddings, tea luncheons, churches, receptions, and other events through her Heart Strings Harps business: www.heartstringsharps.com
As a member of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, she toured in 2011 and 2014 to Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic. In 2011, Rebecca performed at the World Harp Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia. She won the Lakewood, Colorado-Chester, England Sister City Concerto Competitions in 2013 and in 2015. Both times, she performed a concerto with the Lakewood Symphony Orchestra and traveled to Chester, England to perform in four different venues as a People to People Ambassador. Her 2015 concerto piece was recorded for Colorado Public Radio and is still played on the radio from time to time. In 2016, she performed as part of Josh Groban’s orchestra in Denver. With the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, Rebecca toured and performed in 14 cities through China playing harp and percussion in 2016. She performed at the Harps in Worship conferences in California and Colorado. Rebecca teaches harp to students of all ages and conducted the beginner’s group for the 2019 Harp Fantasia. Recently, she became a returning musical guest/character on the YouTube show Tell Ya Later, created by voice acting legends Katie Leigh and Will Ryan. |
Emily Oskins
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Emily Oskins is a classically trained harpist with 23 years of experience. She is a sought-after performer in her hometown of Fredericksburg, as well as in Austin, San Antonio, and the greater Texas Hill Country area. Emily made her debut as a professional harpist in her hometown of Fredericksburg. She founded Fredericksburg Harp Studio, and began teaching and performing alongside her music studies at Schreiner University. Emily is now located in Kyle, TX, where she teaches and performs under her new studio name: Harp of the Hills.
Emily has played for numerous orchestras, choirs, concert bands, and chamber ensembles. Most notable is her work with Symphony of the Hills in Kerrville, and Symphony Viva in San Antonio. She has enjoyed performing for Broadway shows and Ballets, as well as the occasional collegiate band “concert with the composer,” presenting works by Roshanne Etezady and John Mackey. Emily is an active member of the San Antonio Harp Ensemble and the American Harp Society. She has also performed on occasion for State and National political functions, including the Inaugural events of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Currently, Emily keeps busy as a full-time mom and part-time musician. She and her husband, Paul, have an almost two-year-old little girl, and a boy on the way. In addition, Emily enjoys preparing for concerts, playing weddings and private events, accompanying at her church, and teaching harp and piano to students of all ages. |
Laura Pradia
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Laura Pradia is a versatile and accomplished musician known for her mastery of classical instruments and innovative interpretations. Combining her classical training with a remarkable improvisational skill, Laura captivates audiences by transforming popular songs into captivating harp melodies. Her boundless creativity and passion for reinventing familiar tunes highlight her versatility and eagerness to explore new musical horizons. Raised in a homeschool environment as the fourth of nine children in a military family, Laura's upbringing fostered adaptability, resilience, and a love for collaboration. Fondly recalling the cherished memories of making music with her siblings and friends, she developed a strong foundation as an ensemble player. Beyond her musical pursuits, Laura finds joy in baking macarons, diving into classic literature, expressing her creativity through art, and social dancing. Recognized for her exceptional skills on the harp and violin, Laura is highly sought after for enchanting weddings in the Texas Hill Country. She also contributes her violin talents to a vibrant community symphony orchestra and her church, where she finds fulfillment in uplifting the congregation through beautiful music. With a passionate dedication to serving through music, Laura is eagerly preparing to embark on a new chapter next fall by pursuing a harp degree.
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Mary Radspinner
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Mary Radspinner began harp studies with Jeanne Henderson in the Milwaukee Public Schools. She later taught public school music herself before moving to Houston where she freelanced and subbed with the Houston Symphony and Ballet orchestras. Mary has served as regional director of the American Harp Society, president of the Scottish Harp Society and the ISFHC (International Society of Folk Harpers & Craftsmen), and an editor-in-chief of the Folk Harp Journal. She is familiarly known for running Afghan Press and Melody's Traditional Music in Houston, which she co-owns with her husband John Gill. Afghan Press Music for the Harp represents a wide range of arrangers and composers from the 20th and 21st centuries.
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Andy Rose
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Mr. Andy Rose has served as organist at First Christian Church in McKinney, Texas, since 2018. In 2021, he was employed by First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth as part-time Administrative Assistant for Music and Worship Arts. Andy earned a BA in music with a concentration in organ degree from Texas Wesleyan University and has studied organ with Dr. Kiyo Watanabe and Dr. Jerry Westenkuehler.
Andy is a member of the Fort Worth and Dallas chapters of the American Guild of Organists and is currently serving an elected term as a Director on the Fort Worth chapter's Executive Committee. He is the Webmaster of the FW - AGO. In 2021, he formed "Andy Rose Organ Service", a pipe organ tuning and service company, and he services church organs throughout North Texas. |
Jessica Russell
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The most important part of Jessica’s life is her relationship with God. She is blessed to have music as a way to serve at church and as an opportunity to minister to others. Jessica is a freelance harpist based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. She studied under Dr. Laura Brandenburg at Texas Christian University, receiving a bachelor's degree in music and child development. She also completed a master’s degree in developmental trauma at TCU. While her primary work is supporting children and teens in the medical setting, Jessica enjoys continuing to perform on the harp. https://harpbyjessica.com/
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Mary Stevens
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During her lifetime of music, Mary Stevens has been a private music teacher, church pianist, organist, and music director, and provided therapeutic music at several facilities. She is the owner and program director of Harp for Healing and a former board member of the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians (NSBTM).
Mary Stevens began teaching herself to play the harp at the age of 45 with a Dusty Strings FH26 and Sylvia Wood's book "Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp". She studied therapeutic harp through Harp for Healing's Clinical Musician Certification Program (CMCP), the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP), and Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy training program (VAHT). Mary and her husband Rick make their home in Havre, Montana. https://harpforhealing.com/ |
Anna Vorhes
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Anna Vorhes teaches harp at Augustana College. She is the principal harpist with the Sioux City Symphony and is a member of the South Dakota Symphony. She has performed with numerous community, college and secondary school choirs throughout the region.
Ms. Vorhes spent more than a decade as a South Dakota Arts Council touring artist. She organizes a harp ensemble concert every other year, with 25 to 40 harpists participating. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, with majors in music and psychology and a Master of Music degree in Harp Performance from Dr. Carrol McLaughlin at the University of Arizona. |
Elizabeth Webb
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Elizabeth Webb is a professional harpist, composer, author, and instructor who has been performing and teaching harp for over 27 years. She has a passion for teaching, not just how to play the harp, but teaching harpists how to be successful in business. She is also passionate about innovating and creating solutions to make things easier for harpists. Over the past 9 years, Elizabeth has written a comprehensive 6 book beginning harp curriculum designed for adult learners entitled Learn The Harp. Elizabeth and her husband Joshua have also developed a harp package designed for beginners and travelers called The Starter Harp that comes with everything a harpist needs to play with ease. Elizabeth's innovative ideas have been featured in publications such as Harp Column Magazine and The Folk Harp Journal and featured at the American Harp Society National Conference and Somerset Folk Harp Festival. In 2020 Elizabeth and Joshua decided to leave their life in Houston, Texas and hit the road. They sold most of their possessions, rented out Elizabeth’s harps, bought a 5th wheel, truck, and carbon fiber lever harp, and spent over 2 years traveling the country with their 2 dogs. Elizabeth gave harp playing workshops, Harpli™ business workshops, and house concerts along their travel route while also teaching harp online from the road. They also had the opportunity to do harp photo shoots in hundreds of amazing places. Photos can be seen on Elizabeth's Instagram and Facebook Pages by searching HighwayHarpist. Her latest adventure is building an off-grid homestead at 10,300 feet elevation in the Colorado mountains. Elizabeth and her husband Joshua hope to hold harp retreats on their 10-acre property in the summers as well as host RVers. Elizabeth continues to teach online as she seeks to grow the harp community through sharing her resources on www.harpli.com.
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Peter Wiley
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Peter Wiley was employed by Lyon & Healy Harps for over twenty years (1984-2005). Working primarily in the regulation/assembly department he served a full apprenticeship through to become a journeyman. After ten years he was honored with the title Master Regulator. While at the factory he also worked in the action/mechanism department and as the Final Production Manager. In 1988 he began the Lyon & Healy Road Service Program which gave him the experience of getting to work with harpists in North America from NYC to LA as well as abroad in Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel. Mr. Wiley has also had the pleasure of being the harp technician for five USA International Harp Competitions and two International Harp Competitions in Israel. During his time as the Chief Harp Technician for Lyon & Healy he continuously worked with most of the major U.S. orchestras and many international orchestras including the Symphony Orchestras of: Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Israel Philharmonic and the Sydney Symphony. Working with the major harp colleges such as Indiana University, the Juilliard School, the Eastman School of Music and the Curtis Institute he began presenting “Harp Care” classes back in 1990. He has also been a guest speaker at three American Harp Society National Conferences as well as two World Harp Congress conventions. In 2005 he relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico and works freelance. Mr. Wiley is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on pedal harp condition assessment, advisement and servicing.
Advice on Harp Care and contact information is available at www.harpdoc.com. |
Thomas Williams
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Thomas Williams serves as the Director of Music and Worship Arts at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, where he leads worship weekly with the Choral Union and Adoramus Chamber Choir. He enjoys planning and implementing theological and spirited worship. Thomas' philosophy of worship is centered in making disciples for Christ through music, liturgy and relationships, as we were created to give honor and adoration to God through Christ in weekly corporate worship.
Thomas has been serving the United Methodist church in Texas and Arkansas since 2002. As a talented choral leader, vocalist, and keyboardist, he also has a rich experience as director and clinician for handbell choirs from Arkansas to Texas to Florida. He has served on the Greater Dallas Handbell Association board of directors and is a current member of the Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Arkansas and a Master of Music degree in conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. |
Pamela Wing
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Pamela Wing began her musical education with piano lessons at the age of six, clarinet at eight and then moved on to the harp at the age of eleven. Her passion led her to study at San Francisco State University. Pam has performed in musicals, churches and many weddings and events, as well as playing with the La Jolla Symphony and the Inland Valley Symphony. Pam also lived in Scotland for several years where she studied Celtic music. Pam is an accomplished private teacher, and she taught classroom music Pre-K through 6th grade for several years. Pam currently plays banquets, weddings, and live worship music in a contemporary setting. This interest has led to studio recording: she has played on four instrumental albums of classic hymns and other contemporary projects. She loves inspiring and equipping students as they discover their own musical talents. The areas of San Diego in which she teaches are Clairemont and La Jolla.
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THERAPEUTIC MUSIC DAY
Catherine Anderson
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Catherine Anderson has been an active professional freelance harpist and teacher in New Orleans since 1996. She is the solo harpist for the New Orleans Ritz-Carlton tearoom, charter member of the acclaimed chamber music group Musaica, and on the faculty at Tulane University, Loyola University and the University of New Orleans. She received a BM and MM in harp performance from Indiana University School of Music with renowned harpist Susann McDonald, with additional studies at Oberlin Conservatory and the Salzedo Harp Colony under Alice Chalifoux. Catherine is married to Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Bassist and composer David Anderson, and together they have premiered a number of his duos for bass and harp. A career highlight is performing the Anderson Concerto for Double Bass, Strings and Harp with the LPO last season, her husband David the soloist and composer, and her son, Kyle Anderson, an accomplished cellist, in the cello section.
As a Certified Music Practitioner through the Music for Healing and Transition Program, she plays live, interactive music at the bedside to bring beauty and healing to those suffering from illness. After renewing her CMP certification in 2020 Cathy received a grant from the State of Louisiana Department of Health Medicaid and Medicare Services Nursing Home Residents Fund. This three-year grant funds individual harp sessions at the bedside to improve the quality of life for those suffering from injury and illness in Medicaid and Medicare long-term facilities throughout greater New Orleans. Catherine Anderson has been a member of the American Harp Society since 1972. She served as Southern Regional Director from 2000-2006, and Treasurer from 2003-2006 and again from 2009-2016. In addition, Mrs. Anderson served as Director at Large from 2013-2016, and hosted the AHS National Conference in New Orleans in 2014. Since 2017 she has served as Chair of the Financial Investment Advisory Committee and Financial Group Coordinator. In 2020 Catherine was awarded the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Harp Society. |
Susan Carol
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Susan Carol is a professional soprano vocalist and harpist, a full-time Certified Clinical Musician (CCM), and serves on staff in the music ministry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Lynchburg,VA. She developed Music Care, a compassionate outreach ministry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, to provide live harp and vocal music for persons dealing with health challenges. She offers Music Care as part of the Spiritual Care department in Centra Health hospitals, and in residential skilled healthcare communities.
Susan is a lifelong church musician, serving as soloist and choral section leader, handbell and ChoirChime ringer. She previously directed multiple children’s and youth choirs. For more information about Susan’s Music Care Ministry: HymnSinger.org YouTube: Susan Carol, HarpSinger |
Dr. Laurence Furr
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Dr. Laurence Furr was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He is Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Worth and has a B.M. (UTA) and M.M. (TCU) in pipe organ performance. Along with the normal responsibilities of a church musician, he teaches Musikgarten® every week to 125 children at Trinity Lutheran Children’s Center. A Fulbright scholar, he studied harpsichord in Madrid, Spain at the Royal Conservatory of Music, while earning his Ph.D. in music and art history.
He found his passion as a therapeutic musician, becoming a Certified Clinical Musician in 2014 through the Harps for Healing program and in 2016 became a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner through the International Harp Therapy Program. He is in his eighth year as a therapeutic musician at JPS Health Network, the county hospital, in Fort Worth, playing in Surgery, Emergency, ICU, NICU, Trauma, Cardiac, Oncology, and Psychiatric Units. He is on the Board of Advisors for Andrew Schulman’s Medical Musician Initiative. He has taught classes in therapeutic music for several years at Somerset Folk Harp Festival, Harp Journeys and the Lutheran retreat center in Washington, Holden Village. Laurence has recorded two solo New Age harp albums which were produced by the record label Myndstream: Deep Peace and Upon the Corner of the Moon, which have received critical acclaim and several awards, with almost two million plays on Apple Music. |
Amy Lyons
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Amy Lyons plays the hammered dulcimer and is a 2019 graduate of Harp for Healing. She currently plays primarily for hospice patients, but has also played in hospital and senior care home environments. Her Facebook page is Amy's Relax and Unwind Music.
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Jocelyn Obermeyer
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Jocelyn Obermeyer is a popular therapeutic harpist, equally adept at performing in concert venues and in hospital rooms. Armed with a degree in music, majoring in clarinet and flute – all the woodwinds really - from one of this country’s finest schools, Northern Illinois University, Ms. Obermeyer distinguished herself, by earning a spot as the baritone saxophonist in the school’s premier jazz ensembles, the award-winning “Mode Show,” guided by the hand of Ron Modell.
To solidify her credentials as a therapeutic harp practitioner, she furthered her already extensive musical training, with studies that led to the Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner designation, demonstrating a commitment not only to her craft as a musician, but more profoundly as one who conveys her music to the ill, the stressed, the memory-challenged, families affected by domestic violence, homeless, mentally ill, and those facing end of life. Jocelyn is now the Co- Director of The International Harp Therapy Program of the Americas where she trains others worldwide. Today, with many years of experience in teaching under her belt, Obermeyer is creating the next generation of musicians, therapeutic harpists and others – wanting to give back and to bring her abundant gifts full circle. She does this through her position as Regional Program Director and Board member of the Therapeutic Harp Foundation, where she plays for patients, their families and their caregivers and directs the activities of the other staff therapeutic harpists. She also is part of the leadership team with Diana Rowan’s Bright Knowledge Harp Circle. Jocelyn has also added to her repertoire an End-of-life Doula Certificate from the University of Vermont as well as earning her Chaplain Board Certification (July 2022) and ordination as Deacon in the Anglican church (Nov 2021). |
Dr. Joanna Whitsett
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Dr. Joanna Whitsett, a lifelong church musician, became a Certified Clinical Musician through the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians accredited program, Harp for Healing, LLC. In addition to her private practice, Joanna serves as a therapeutic musician at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Holly Hall Retirement Community and Libbie’s Place Adult Day Care. She serves the Greater Houston Area as a professional harpist, pianist and is the organist for Moody Methodist Church. She holds degrees in Church Music, Organ and Harp Performance from Baylor University (BM, MM) and the University of Houston (DMA). She and her husband Jeff have two children, Aidan and Keira.
www.healingharpbyjoanna.com |
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Robbin Gordon-Cartier
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Robbin Gordon-Cartier is a teacher in the East Orange School District where she directs the harp program that she originally created for the Elizabeth School District. She is President of the North Jersey Chapter of the American Harp Society and has served on the national level as 2nd Vice-President and Director at Large. Robbin continues to be a sought-after presenter of workshops across the country.
Mrs. Gordon-Cartier maintains a private studio where she teaches students of all ages and regularly freelances in the New York metropolitan area. Performance credits include appearances at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City; the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; the Pablo Casals Music Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the National Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Mrs. Gordon-Cartier has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education and a Master's in Harp Performance from Montclair State University. As a young harpist, she spent summers in Dublin, Ireland studying at the Royal Irish Academy. She has been a recipient of numerous educational grants and awards. She received the NAACP Educator Award, the National Action Network Fannie Lou Hamer Award for outstanding contributions and active involvement in the community. Most recently, the Center for Arts in Education at Boston Arts Academy, along with the support of the Surdna Foundation, selected Robbin to receive a National Artist Teacher Fellowship. A Mentorship with the Grammy nominated electric harp virtuoso Deborah Henson-Conant was the project that won the award. Along with her teaching and performances Robbin describes herself, “I’m a church girl...I love the scriptures – and there is so much music in them. Music and scriptures inspire me.” Robbin's CD, "Just as I am" is available on CD Baby, Amazon and Itunes. |
Sunita Staneslow
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Sunita Staneslow is a native of Minnesota but has made Israel her home since the year 2000. She has become widely known for her accessible arrangements for the harp and has fifteen books published by Afghan Press, Mel Bay and Sylvia Woods. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Sunita is classically trained but has a passion for traditional music. Her career has spanned many genres and she has recorded CDs of Jewish, Celtic and classical music.
Since 2007, Sunita has been working as a therapeutic harpist at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Israel. Sunita is a frequent performer and instructor at major North American folk harp festivals, was featured in the Virtual Harp Summit and is a lever harp instructor for the on-line Harp Column Academy. Sunita and her husband, Fred moved from Israel to Shetland in the summer of 2022. They are restoring an old stone house on the North Sea. www.hamars.uk |