March 2020

March 2020 Newsletter

  Dear friends of harp music, March 16th - update - due to spread of COVID 19 and CDC recommendations we are cancelling Harp and Healing on March17th.   It almost felt like spring out there yesterday and it should it was March 1st! Spring is my favorite time of the year, but I learned that in Missouri it can mean anything from snow, rain, ice storm, 70 degrees warm weather - you name it! I am also excited for Spring Break! We always plan family adventures and take time off from performing and teaching. But before we get there I would like to invite you to my March events - I have to warn you there is not much I could fit in, as I am leaving for 10 days to Slovakia tomorrow to see my dad for his big birthday and there is that Spring break later. I am leaving my brave and kind superhusband to single parent 3 kids! Sooo, in the 2 weeks I will actually be here, we will have Harp and Healing on March 17th at 5.30PM at the Loft of Broadway Christian Church. Please note that this is 3th Tuesday of the month, not first as is our usual. Our wonderful pastor Terry Overfelt let me reschedule because of my trip. This service is meant for those who are struggling with death of a loved one, illness, relationship, heartbreak. It is a meditative time with live harp music and reflections. Free and open for all.  Consider joining us even if...

February 2020

Feb. 2020 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, First I want tell you that there is no Harp and Healing tonight. Never in the last 8 years since we started Harp and Healing have I had to reschedule! Well, my luck ran out this month as I am needed for rehearsals and concert in Springfield to play a new Oratorio. But we will still hold the service at the later date - 3th Tuesday this month February 18th. But let’s start in order at the beginning of the month and let me invite you to some events and concerts I am part of this month: Tomorrow - February 5th, I will be playing in Springfield with the Drury - Civic orchestra for the premiere of a new choral-orchestra work by award winning composer Carlyle Sharpe - Of These Years I Sing, featuring the Drury Chorale and mezzo soprano Ann Marie Daehn. Concert is at 7.30pm, Hammons hall. More info: https://www.springfieldmo.org/events/46451/springfield-drury-civic-orchestra-to-perform-choral-orchestra-work-by-carlyle-sharpe On February 14th - I will be playing for Valentine’s dinner at the Old Hawthorne Club. It is a member only event, but I still want to share this as some of you might be members there and interested. I played there last year and the romantic atmosphere and dinner are wonderful. On February 15th I will be back in Springfield, playing with the Springfield Symphony. The concert is at 7.30 at the Hammons Hall. More information here: http://www.springfieldmosymphony.org/concerts/february/american-pictures As I mentioned earlier, Harp and Healing will be held this month on Tuesday February 18th at 5.30pm. Come and rejuvenate with the sound of live harp...

January 2020

Jan. 2020 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I bring you best wishes for the New Year, let it be filled with good health, peace and happiness. I hope you had a nice Holiday season. I was very busy in December, with orchestra concerts,solo performances and my new CD promotion that I really welcomed the downtime with my family and took 2 weeks off completely to be just a mom and a wife. :-) January is a fairly quiet month for me, focused on teaching, planning, booking and updating my website, YouTube etc. That said, here are a few events I would like to invite you to: Harp and Healing tomorrow at 5.30pm at the Loft of Broadway Christian Church. After our special event called Blue Christmas in December where we enjoyed painter Vesna Delevska live painting to music and word, we will be returning to our monthly quiet and contemplative services at the Loft of Broadway Christian Church. Join us for 45 minutes of therapeutic harp music and inspirational word. This ecumenical service is free and open for everyone to attend. More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/481485245888205/?ti=icl Studio Recital - every six months both my husband's cello students and my harp students perform at the joint Trevor Studio Recital. This is mainly for our studio families to see their children's progress in concert, but if you are interested, it is open to public. The date is this Saturday January 11th at 4pm at Broadway Christian Church. Wedding Expo - I will be one of the vendors at Super Wedding Show happening on January 19th between 12pm...

December 2019

Dec. 2019 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I hope you had blessed Thanksgiving spent with family! My family and I traveled to Chicago to spend time with friends. We had a wonderful time visiting the Science and industry museum and the Art Institute and just looking around! The final month of 2019 is here and I would like to invite you to the following events I am involved in this December: Blue Christmas, Tuesday December 3th, 5.30pm, Broadway Christian Church Sanctuary. This is our Christmas Harp and Healing special. December can be a wonderful month filled with joy and excitement with anticipation of Christmas, but for some this month is extra hard. The loss of a loved one, divorce, illness... If your pains and burdens seem especially heavy, join us for this solemn, reflective and meditative event. We will have live harp music, meditations of our ministers and a special guest artist from St.Louis Vesna Delevska live painting during the event. Free and open for all! More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/745984245813999/?ti=icl As you may know I have released a new album! It’s called Christmas Harp and it has my favorite Christmas tunes specially arranged for harp! I will be selling my CDs at every event this month, but CDs are also available at Clovers locations and The Music Suite locally. You can also listen, download or order them on my website or anywhere you go to for downloading music: https://mariaharp.com/cds1/ On December 5th at 6pm I have a solo concert in Jefferson City at Grace Episcopal Church....

November 2019

Nov. 2019 Newsletter

Dear Friends of harp music, As we leave yet another month behind us and another birthday for me, I would like to invite you to November events that I am taking part of. Harp and Healing, Tuesday November 5th, 5.30PM at the Loft of Broadway Christian Church. Join us for 45 minutes of therapeutic live harp music intertwined with reflective words of Pastor Terry Overfelt. This service is meant for those who are in need of healing, be it physical, spiritual, emotional. Free and open for all. More information: click here On November 17th, I will be the featured musician at the Olivet Christian Church during their Arts Sunday services. Celebration of all things artistic and live painting will be taking place in this special church at 8.30 and 11AM. The Missouri Theatre will be very noisy on November 21st because of the Missouri Symphony's annual 3th grade program called "How to Build an orchestra". If you have a child or grandchild in third grade enrolled in CPS, they will be there either at 10AM or 12PM. Please ask them about this special experience! On November  22nd and 23th I will be accompanying Johnny Mathis along with the Springfield Symphony in two concerts at the Mansion Theatre in Branson. It is not a long trip and his concerts are amazing. What a treat to play with such a legend. If you love his music, consider coming to this early Christmas Concert. I look forward to this every year! There is a lot of websites selling Branson tickets, just look up Johnny Mathis, Mansion theatre, Branson , 2019. My new Christmas Album called Christmas Harp is coming out in November! I...

October 2019

Oct. 2019 Newsletter

Dear friends of the harp,   I hope you had a good month of September, I certainly enjoyed plenty of performing opportunities and a nice weather and time spent with my family. Some of my favorite events included wedding ceremonies in beautiful new locations around Missouri, playing for the Super Sam Gala and the Springfield Symphony 85th season opening concert.   Looking at October, I would like to invite you to concerts and events that I am involved in!   Today, Tuesday October 1st - first Tuesday of the month, 5.30pm - Harp and Healing service at Broadway Christian Church - the Loft. In it's 7th season, the Harp and Healing service continues to attract people in need of healing - be it physical, spiritual, emotional, relational. Therapeutic harp music is intertwined with inspirational word. 45 minutes in length, free and open for all. Facebook event link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/2243532132443192/?ti=icl   On October 7th, I will join the MU Wind Ensemble in concert in the Missouri Theatre at 7pm. It's always interesting to be the only string instrument added to the band of woodwinds, brass and percussion!   Other than that, the rest of this month is filled with private events, I will be providing music for wedding ceremonies in Alton,IL on October 5th, Quincy, IL on October 12th, Jefferson City on the 19th and both Columbia and Saint Louis on the 26th! I will also be playing for the Employee recognition dinner for 3M this month.   I continue working on my Christmas CD, at this point it's working on final edits with LinderVox Sound and on CD cover design with Maura Mudd....

September 2019

Sept. 2019 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music,   I hope you had a great and restful summer! I was busy playing for the Hot Summer Nights festival in June through mid July, but took a nice break in August to spend time with my kids. We had some nice family trips to Colorado, Branson and Buffalo National River in Arkansas. I am refreshed and ready for another season of performances and teaching.   Pastor Terry Overfelt and I are excited to start the 9th season of Harp and Healing services on Tuesday September 3th. This is a 45 minutes long ministry of classical and therapeutic harp music intermingled with inspirational and thoughtful readings. The service was created as a space/time/gift for those who are heartbroken. For those who lost a loved one, gone through divorce or are coping with an illness. The atmosphere is very meditative and non intrusive. Whether you are experiencing these things or you just want to join us for the relaxing music, you are welcome! Free and open for all, 5.30pm at Broadway Christian Church.   We were invited to talk about H&H at Radio friends with Paul Pepper, here is a link to that interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K99sSdcFoQU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1NK1tyWargVz2P_Qr9H_8aaRjv6y_dhMZnioPTcmz0pOqlHgm2jNb7G4E   And they surprised me with a super sweet behind the scenes video called Harp Delivery, it's very cute, here is a link to that:   https://www.facebook.com/223148557714142/posts/2738822516146721/     On September 17th we will  have a special Harp and Healing as part of Partners in Ministry Retreat, this will be an hour long event and will include communion. It will take place at Broadway Christian Church...

June 2019

June & July 2019 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music,my June and July is filled with the Missouri Symphony concerts during Hot Summer Nights festival. I hope you can attend some of the following concerts. This newsletter is coming a few days into the festival, so 3 concerts are already gone, but there is one right this evening! For information and tickets go to: https://themosy.org/hot-summer-nights-2019/A Grand Night for Singing! June 8th, 8pm, Missouri Theatre The Missouri Symphony and Columbia Chorale welcomes Columbia’s own Melissa Bohon and friends in a semi-staged evening showcasing the best of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Including iconic moments from Oklahoma, Carousel, The Sound of Music and more. Great songs, choruses and dancing- it will truly be “Some Enchanted Evening!”Strike Up the Band! Take 2, June 9, 2019 at 7:00 pm, Lake Ozarks AmphitheaterJoin MSO for Take 2 of the ‘Strike Up the Band’ Community Concert at the beautiful Lake of the OzarksChamber Recital – June 10, June 10, 2019 at 7:00 pm, Broadway Christian Church Missouri Symphony Orchestra musicians perform in small groups with a wide range of repertoire from the baroque to the very newest works. While enjoying the superb acoustics of the Broadway Christian Church, the audience has a unique opportunity to get close to the musicians and meet with them after the concerts. Buster Keaton in: The General, June 12, 2019 at 7:00 pm, Missouri TheatreWhen Union spies steal an engineer’s beloved locomotive, he pursues it single-handedly and straight through enemy lines. Enjoy Buster Keaton’s 1926 American silent film comedy accompanied by the...

May 2019

May 2019 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I would love to invite you to the following events in May. Tomorrow, Friday May 2nd - Odyssey Chamber Music Series concert at 7pm at First Baptist Church downtown. I have been practicing for about a month now to polish the harp part for this special concert, I will be playing Cantilena and Scherzo by Gian Carlo Menotti for harp and string quartet with the Esterhazy string quartet. It has so many pedal changes it's unreal, but that stays hidden from your view! If you can, please join me! More information: https://www.odysseymissouri.org/ On Sunday May 5th at 7pm in the Missouri Theatre we have the final Missouri Symphony Conservatory Concert. This is a culmination of the semester's worth work for Junior Sinfonia, Young Artists Philharmonic and Chamber Players. Two of my talented harp students will be performing with the orchestra. More information: http://www.springfieldmosymphony.org/ Tuesday, May 7th at 5.30pm at Broadway Christian Church - Sanctuary we will hold the final Harp and Healing of this season before we break for the summer. We decided to call it Spring renewal as everything around us in the nature is sprouting and giving us hope. To make it even more special, we will have a local artist Jenny McGee to live paint during the service and my husband Kirk will join me on a couple of pieces on cello. Pastor Terry Overfelt will have selected poetry and inspirational readings. More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/346748006200248/ Then next weekend I will be in Springfield playing with the Springfield Symphony. The concert is entirely...

April 2019

April 2019 Newsletter

Dear friends of harp music, I would like to invite you to the following events this month, although I will be playing more in Springfield than in Columbia! On April 2nd we hold Harp and Healing at 5.30 pm at the Loft of Broadway Christian Church. This is a monthly service, free and open for all. Whether you are in need of any kind of healing, be it physical, spiritual, relational or just want to listen to relaxing live harp music and inspirational word by pastor Terry Overfelt - join is tonight! Tomorrow I am going back to Springfield for the rest of the week of rehearsals leading to the performance of Bernstein's opera Candide this Friday night with the Springfield Regional Opera. More info: https://www.sropera.org/ I will also be back there playing with the Springfield Symphony the following weekend, in concert on April 13th, Copland's Appalachian Spring on the program. More info: https://www.springfieldmosymphony.org/concerts/april/will-you-marry-me On April 17th at 6PM, my students and I are presenting our annual harp concert at Lenoir Woods, if you know any residents there, let them know! On April 28th, both my harp students and my husband's cello students will perform in a Studio recital at 3PM in the Sanctuary of Broadway Christian Church. This is for families mainly, but feel free to join us if you like! Taking a peak into May, I will be performing a chamber music piece on Odyssey Concert Series on May 3th More info: https://www.odysseymissouri.org/programs.html And we will have a final Harp and Healing of this season on Tuesday May 7th at 5.30PM. The...