NEWSLETTER | Maria Duhova Trevor, Harpist

October 2021

October 2021 Newsletter

Dear friends of Harp music, I would like to invite you to join us for Harp and Healing tomorrow evening. Come and relax in an outdoor setting in the outdoor worship area at Broadway Christian Church at 5.30pm. This 45 minutes long service features time for self reflection and personal growth, time to heal, forgive and keep moving forward. Our minister Terry Overfelt will provide us with inspirational thoughts and I will provide therapeutic harp music. You can find recordings of past Harp and Healing services unique to Columbia MO on YouTube just click here. I will be performing in Springfield this month, with the Ozarks Lyric Opera, we are working on Puccini's opera Turanot and the performance is on October 22nd at Hammons Hall. Here is their website in case you want to make a trip to Springfield! https://www.ozarkslyricopera.com/ Fall wedding season is always lovely with the changing colors and moderate weather. I have played several weddings this season, traveling around Missouri and Midwest. I had a nice time visiting and playing a wedding ceremony at the Thorncrown chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Playing in Springfield, Illinois, playing in and around Saint Louis, but it's also always nice to be able to stay close to home and play at Old Hawthorne Club and Emerson Fields like the last two weddings! I am truly enjoying seeing my students again and helping them on their journey, wherever they are - beginner, intermediate or advanced level. I have posted some of...

October 2, 2021

June 2021

Summer 2021 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I hope you are having a great summer so far! I think we are all enjoying the slow return to normalcy and with that - live music again! I would love to invite you to some summer programs I have coming up! Many of you know that I am the harpist for the Missouri Symphony and every June, July are taken with the Hot Summer Nights Music Festival. This year is no different in that sense, except that this year is also the last for my husband Kirk as the Music Director of the Missouri Symphony. It is definitely an end of an era for us. We plan to stay in ton and continue to work with young musicians in the area. That said there is a fabulous line up of Missouri Symphony concerts that I hope you will attend! Musicians from all corners of the USA arrived last week, they have been rehearsing everyday and already played 2 different programs in the Missouri Theatre over last 5 days. The first concert I want to bring your attention to is completely free, so you don't want to miss this one! This Sunday, June 20th at the Stephen's Lake Park Amphitheater, 7.00pm, Missouri Symphony presents "Dads, everyday superheroes" Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to enjoy this concert full of eclectic repertoire, mix of classical, pops and film music. Perfect for a family evening on a Father's Day weekend! There are so many concerts this season I am looking forward to: Juneteenth celebration on June 19th, the...

June 19, 2021

May 2021

May 2021 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, It's a beautiful day outside as I am writing this and I would like to invite you to some of my concerts and events this month as we are slowly coming out of the pandemic and things are happening again. Yey! Tomorrow evening - Tuesday May 4th at 5.30pm, we will have out last Harp and Healing this season before we part for the summer and resume again in September. This quiet and contemplative service of inspirational words and therapeutic harp music happens every first Tuesday of each month at Broadway Christian Church. Tomorrow we will be indoors physically distanced and masked at the Christian Life Center - the very last door on the west side. On May 18th, my husband and I - Duo 51 Strings - will provide cello and harp music for the MOSY outreach Preludes at the Pubs. We will be performing from 5.30 - 7pm at Gunter Hans. We will be playing music ranging from classical, through musical and movie scores. Come and enjoy your evening with good food, company and live music. More information HERE. There are couple of events, I would normally invite you to, but due to Covid restrictions on number of guests, I can't at this time. Let me at least tell you about them! I very excited to organize my studio recital again after 15 months. I am so humbled by my students' dedication and progress during this difficult school year. Yet they persevered and nobody gave up...

May 3, 2021

April 2021

April 2021 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I hope you had a relaxing spring break! The lovely spring weather these days makes our lives brighter, doesn't it? I am enjoying spending more time outdoors with my family and seeing the flowers and trees bloom! This warm weather allows us to gather safely outdoors, so I would like to invite you to tonight's in person Harp and Healing service at Broadway Christian Church - outdoor worship area next to the parking lot. If you experienced loss, hardship or illness - this service is for you. If you just want to come and enjoy the relaxing music and the uplifting of the spirit - this service is for you. Free and open for all - 5.30pm tonight. If you can't make it, the video will be posted later this week on BCC YouTube Channel as well as on my website. We have been recording these services this past year and plan to continue to do so, so you can find them online anytime! After 13 long months of not playing in an orchestra, I am finally back to playing with the Springfield Symphony this weekend! I am very excited to play with an ensemble again. The SSO was able to have a regular performance season, albeit with reduced instrumentation - less people on stage, physically distanced and masked. Finally there is room for harp to be back, performing Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier Suite. More information here: Schnitzel and Strudel | Springfield Symphony (springfieldmosymphony.org) I am grateful for a mention in the COMO magazine this month, here...

April 6, 2021

March 2021

March 2021 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I hope you have enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. I personally can't wait to get outside more after the long winter. I enjoy working in the garden, planting flowers and vegetables and of course going to many of Columbia parks with my kids and State parks for hikes. With a new month, I would like to mention to you some of the events that my harp gets to go to! For those of you struggling with grief, illness, loss or simply looking to pause and feel spiritually uplifted, please watch our Harp and Healing service. While we can't meet in person yet, I am so grateful for technology and the ability to record these services and have them available for you to watch anytime. I know in my own life, I really appreciate this monthly time of solitude, music and meditations. Big thank you to Pastor Terry Overfelt for inspiring us with meaningful readings and Taby Lane, who sets up the "stage" and records the services. Click here to watch it on Youtube. As the wedding season is starting now in March, I am looking forward to playing wedding ceremonies again. The pandemic is still preventing us from big gatherings, but live music helps create a special atmosphere for any wedding ceremony, big or micro! If you know of anyone who might enjoy live harp music on their big day, please send them to www.mariaharp.com Talking about love and weddings - my friend, harpist Ruth Acuff and...

March 11, 2021

February 2021

February 2021 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I have been silent last month since my husband and I were still recovering from Covid in early January. We had the illness over Christmas and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. My husband initially tested positive after a confirmed exposure, I followed a few days later. Our children remained negative, so we had to isolate from them in our own home. Our church really helped us by delivering meals at the time when I couldn't cook. Our doctor and the health department were also amazing frequently checking on us. My husband had a strong course of illness with 10 days of high fevers and all the symptoms in the book, mine was lighter, but fatigue and headaches would sneak in even days later. My son eventually also tested positive just as we were coming out of isolation, the other two kids continued to remain negative. We recovered though and we are grateful for friends and family who helped us through. I am back to performing and teaching and would like to share and invite you to the following events this month: Tonight at 7.30pm I will playing therapeutic music for "A Peaceful Pause" It's the first event in a series of three on February 11th, 18th and 25th on Zoom. Join us for 45 minutes of harp music, deep breathing and essential oils. This is a collaboration with Kindred Collective, each session will have a theme based on the 3 groups of essential oils. 2/11 Grounding (tree oil), 2/18 Soothing (floral oil),...

February 11, 2021

January 2021

January 2021 Newsletter

Happy New Year friends! Hoping that it will be better than 2020 and live music will return full force to our lives! Wishing you all happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

January 1, 2021

December 2020

December 2020 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I want to wish you a beautiful Advent season and hope that my harp music can help you create festive atmosphere in your homes. It has been a year since I released my third album - Christmas Harp. Christmas music is special. Just like treasured family ornaments come out of the boxes and are carefully placed on the Christmas tree, mom's best china placed on the dinning table, treasured recipes past from generation to generation, Christmas music comes out as well. There is something magical about it that helps us get into the festive spirit year after year! So if you don't have my CD yet or you already lost it, I have a few! If you are interested in a physical copy, let me know and I am happy to mail it to you or have it available for pick up. It makes for a great present too! My CDs are also available for sale at the Music Suite on Providence. If you prefer a digital version, all my CDs are on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer, just search for my name. Thank you for listening! I am excited to say that I will play a live concert tomorrow night ( Friday Dec.4th ), which is a rare occasion right now! It's part of Odyssey Chamber Music Series. Audience is very limited and by invitation only, so don't head out just yet, but watch it at home! The concert premiers tomorrow at 7pm, but the video will be available...

December 4, 2020

November 2020

November 2020 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I hope you are well! I am much of the same - my kids learning virtually, I am teaching online, concert halls closed... I was excited last week to vote in the US Presidential Election as this was my first time voting since becoming an American citizen! I know there is not much live music I can invite you to these days, but we continue to produce Harp and Healing services, generally on first Tuesday of each month, this month was an exception due to the election. Also it's too cold for us to gather outside anymore, so we prerecorded the music and the word and it will be published on Youtube tonight at 5.30pm. Healing is so needed in these difficult times and we try to reflect it through meditations, readings and harp music. This month we have a number of special guests! Please tune in at 5.30 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1KEZfGZrM&feature=youtu.be Of course, just like in the previous months, the recording will be available on YouTube for you to view after the premiere date as well. Next, I would like to talk to you about the possibility of learning to the harp! I am often surprised that people seem to think that playing harp is inaccessible when in fact the opposite is true! I love teaching my young and my adult students and hope to spread the word that anybody can learn how to play the harp! So what if you or your child considered taking harp lessons? What do you...

November 10, 2020

October 2020

October 2020 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I hope this finds you well and healthy! We enjoyed a beautiful weather this past weekend hiking in Arkansas. What a gift of making memories with my kids. Nature has always been my solace, so I am happy that we can bring Harp and Healing outdoors instead of virtually. Weather for tomorrow, Tuesday October 6th looks perfect. So if you would like to relax with live harp music, bring your foldable chair, face mask and join at Broadway Christian Church at 5.30pm! Our minister Terry Overfelt will be back from her sabbatical and will join me with inspirational readings. This service is meant for those who are in need of healing, but at the moment it's all of us! It's free and open for all. More info can be found on my Facebook page or Broadway Christian Church website. November Harp and Healing will be postponed due to Election Day to second Tuesday - November 10th. Weather permitting we might still hold it outdoors. If it's too cold, we will have a virtual one. My symphony playing is still on hold due to Covid - 19, as there is hardly any live music going on right now. I am enjoying performing for wedding ceremonies throughout the Midwest and teaching my harp students, children and adults. For current pictures and videos, please follow me on social media My Facebook page can be found here https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=maria%20duhova%20trevor%20-%20harpist&epa=SEARCH_BOX Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maria_duhova_trevor_harp/?hl=en YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJc3dL-8XO7hY89QSMZipCA?view_as=subscriber Thank you and stay safe and healthy, Maria

October 5, 2020