Above: The 2010 Angel Harps Benefit Concert had Ethereal Lighting

The 2010 Angel Harps Annual Benefit Concert was a great success and we want to thank all of our sponsors, attendees, volunteers, and performers for their amazing support.

Kohl’s of Eastlake once again provided us with an amazing Mistress of Ceremonies and valuable volunteers.

Due to the great generosity of those who really want to help special needs children with harp music therapy, we were able to award two specially designed lap harps from the well respected harp maker, Blevins Harps.

Above: Julie Guy of the Music Therapy Center of California Accepts two 2010 Blevins Harps

The Music Therapy Center of California (MTCC) accepted the custom built Blevins lap harps at the Angel Harps annual benefit concert that took place St John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista California.

Dianna Woodley awarded the harps to MTCC representative, Julie Guy who beamed with pleasure.

The Angel Harps goal is to get harp music therapy to as many special needs children as possible and since the Music Therapy Center of California has a similar goal–it was truly a match made in heaven.

Founded in 2003, Angel Harps is a 501.C3 non-profit organization whose proceeds go to provide healing harps for children with disabilities.

The Angel Harps mission is to provide physically and emotionally challenged individuals with the opportunity to heal through harp therapy–and to promote the health and strength of a community by addressing the physical and emotional needs of the less fortunate in low income areas.

Based in San Diego County, the Music Therapy Center of California (MTCCA) was founded in the fall of 2003 with the goal of bringing quality music therapy services to children with special needs through the use of music therapy strategies.

Above: Some of the crowd during the intermission at the 2010 Angel Harps Annual Benefit Concert.

Featured performers for this year’s annual benefit to raise funds for therapeutic harps for children with disabilities included Kathleen Hartshorne on the Irish Lever Harp and Elivia Melodey playing Singing Crystal Bowls.

Special appearances by John Hartshshorne and Guenther Krammer enhanced the ensemble.

During intermission, special services were provided to attendees by Reverend Debra Demarais, Reverend Beatrice Calise, and Candy Smith.

Above: Special attendees included the VFW Motorcycle Club who traveled down from Riverside County to show their support.

Angel Harps thanks St John’s Episcopal Church for all their support.

Plans for the 2011 concert are currently underway and we will be announcing a new larger and more centralized location as soon as the details are finalized.

Dianna Woodley, founder of Angel Harps will award two specially designed lap harps to the Music Therapy Center of California (MTCC).

The Music Therapy Center of California was selected to receive the awards because of their music therapy work and dedication to serve special needs children.

MTCC will accept the custom built Blevins lap harps at the Angel Harps annual benefit concert on May 16, 2010 at St John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista California.

Dianna Woodley said, “Our goal is to get harp music therapy to as many special needs children as we can. The Music Therapy Center of California has a similar goal and we are thrilled about this award.”

Founded in 2003, Angel Harps is a 501.C3 non-profit organization whose proceeds go to provide healing harps for children with disabilities.

The Angel Harps mission is to provide physically and emotionally challenged individuals with the opportunity to heal through harp therapy–and to promote the health and strength of a community by addressing the physical and emotional needs of the less fortunate in low income areas.

Based in San Diego County, the Music Therapy Center of California (MTCCA) was founded in the fall of 2003 with the goal of bringing quality music therapy services to children with special needs through the use of music therapy strategies.

Julie Guy and Angela Neve, co-founders of the Music Therapy Center of California, will accept the award on behalf of their organization.

Featured performers for this year’s annual benefit to raise funds for therapeutic harps for children with disabilities include Kathleen Hartshorne on the Irish Lever Harp and Elivia Melodey playing Singing Crystal Bowls. During intermission, special healers will also offer services by donation.

Sixth Annual Angel Harps Benefit Concert on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 3:00pm. The annual Angel Harps fundraising event will again be hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church on 760 First Avenue in Chula Vista, California.

Support the Angel Harp’s mission and enrich the lives of special needs children through direct donation or contact Angel Harps to learn how you might help.

Plan on attending the Fifth Annual Angel Harps Benefit Concert on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 3:00pm. The annual Angel Harps fundraising event will again be hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church on 760 First Avenue in Chula Vista, California.

Featured performers for this year’s annual Angel Harps benefit concert to raise funds for therapeutic harps for children with disabilities include:

Kathleen Hartshorne, Irish Lever Harp
Kathleen Hartshorne was trained as a classical musician and studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. On a trip to Ireland she became enchanted with the Irish lever harp and the haunting strains of ancient Celtic music. Hartshorne performs on the Irish Lever Harp throughout the US and Ireland.

Check out her music, Ancient Echoes.

Elivia Melodey, Singing Crystal Bowls
In her work as a musician, spiritual medium and recording artist, Elivia Melodey (Crystal Vibrations Music) travels and performs internationally translating sounds from the celestial realms into music on her singing crystal bowls and other unique instruments. Elivia sits on the Board of Directors of Angel Harps.

Her four titles include Terra Firma, Crystal Portal, Journey to Wholeness, and Celestial Memories.

During intermission special healers will also offer services by donation.

This event is sponsored by Angel Harps, a local non-profit organization dedicated to bringing healing harps to disabled children.

Take comfort in knowing that the Angel Harps proceeds will go to purchasing harps for disabled children.

Did you know you can support Angel Harps all year?

• Spread the word about Angel Harps (Facebook) or Angel Harps (Twitter).
• Donate to Angel Harps
• Sponsor Angel Harps
• Volunteer to help Angel Harps

Order your tickets today. Your receipt is your ticket.

Click here to download (or print) and share the 2010 Angel Harps Benefit Concert Flyer now.

Trained as a classical musician, Kathleen Hartshorne studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and is former member of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Festival Choir.

On a trip to Ireland she became enchanted with the Irish lever harp and the haunting strains of ancient Celtic music.

The result?

Hartshorne currently performs solo, and with the Celtic Echoes Band, playing Ancient Irish and Renaissance Music on the Irish Lever Harp throughout the United States and Ireland.

In addition, she teaches harp, piano, and runs a fun and innovative musical play group kids called, “The Wee Ones.”

Her title currently available includes Ancient Echoes.

Elivia regularly travels across the United States performing for a variety of audiences with over four dozen singing crystal bowls and unusual instruments that include a Blevins harp.

This talented musician has presented workshops for both private and public schools from kindergarten through high school, and provided specialized programs groups such as the Cosmic Kids, Indigo Children, and Children of Today.

Above: News Coverage of Elivia Melodey’s Crystal Vibrations Music

In her work as a singing crystal bowl expert, she has produced four compact disks so that the tones and vibrations of crystal singing bowls are accessible to anyone.

Elivia now sits on the Board of Directors of Angel Harps and has performed at the Angel Harps annual fundraising concerts in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and will perform again in 2010.

Her four titles include Terra Firma, Crystal Portal, Journey to Wholeness, and Celestial Memories.

Look for these talented individuals and explore their talents and generous offerings during the benefit concert intermission.

Reverend Debra Desmarais

Reverend Debra Desmarais is a healer and spiritual counselor who is located in the San Diego area of California.

Reverend Debra was ordained in 1992 and served at First Spiritual Church as Minister of Healing, Assistant Pastor and Pastor.

She also has a long-term association with Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association and teaches many spiritual subjects.

Her current ministry is through the Awareness of Light.

Reverend Debra is dedicated to bettering the life of those she meets and she provides informative, soul expanding classes and intuitive counseling.

During the Angel Harps benefit concerts Reverend Desmarais provides angel messages and shares angelic healing energies with those who request it.

Sheila Moore

Sheila Moore’s specialty is reading auras (body energy fields) and she established her current practice, Aura Exploration in the San Diego area in the late 1990s.

A woman of many talents, Moore has maintained a lifelong interest in metaphysics and spiritual healing.

Sheila Moore is certified by the American Board of Hypnotherapy and also serves as an A.B.H. Certified Past Life Therapist.

At the Angel Harps benefit concerts, Sheila Moore provides aura readings to help people restore harmonic balance to their lives.

Reverend Gwen Stone

Reverend Gwen Stone of First Christian Spiritualist Church in National City is another avid supporter of Angel Harps who donates her skills to the cause.

Amaris Alvarez, started studying the harp at the age of 11 ½ under the tutelage of JoAnn Ford.

Recently honored by the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory for her years of music education service, JoAnn Ford is now retired but continues to teach the harp privately.

Above: The Talented Alvarez Sisters (Flute & Harp)

The state of music education is of growing concern to Ford who taught music since the late 1950s and received the Profiles in Music Education Award in November of 2009.

She also played the harp for the San Diego Symphony for 11 years.

Felicia Alvarez, a flutist since age nine, studied with Winona Grant and Kara Alcorn Borodach and has been performing since the age of 14.

Angel Harps is excited to watch as these young women mature into talented musicians.

This talented harpist has played the harp for most of her life and began her love affair with the harp at eight years of age when she began studying with classical symphony harpist, Julia Louise Herrmann .

Morgan performed her first solo classical recital when she was twelve and began a professional harp career when she debuted as the harpist for the Dallas Repertory Theater at the tender age of 14. Morgan continued classical studies and performance through college.

Influenced by pioneer harpist Alan Stivell, Melissa Morgan began playing the Irish and Celtic harps but did not limited herself to those harps or any particular sizes of harp.

Today, she tours internationally and plays classical, folk, jazz, and original compositions.

Her current affiliations include playing with keyboardist Erik Carlson as the duo, Eloquence but Melissa has played and recorded with notable musicians such as jazz guitarist Peter Sprague, singer/songwriter Deborah Liv Johnson, and flautist Lori Bell.

Morgan was a great addition to the Angel Harps cause since she is no stranger to the therapeutic harp field and has shared healing harp music therapy to those in need at hospitals or private facilities and homes.

At one time, this harpist and composer also taught music to thousands of children in Micronesia (through an Insular Arts Grant) so supporting healing harp therapy for special needs children was a great fit.

Melissa Morgan’s works include Erin’s Harp, Invocation to Isis, Heart, Tides, Here Comes the Bride, and Happenstance Dance.

Not only did this talented Venezuelan harpist contribute her talents to Angel Harps at the 2005 benefit concert, but when she lived in San Diego she also volunteered her harp playing talents for patients at various hospitals throughout the county including Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Barreiro has traveled throughout Latin America, Europe, Caribbean Islands and the United States and was previously associated with Los Hijos de la Casa Grande (Children of the Big House).

Above: Los Hijos de la Case Grande featuring a young Carmen Elena Barreiro playing the Venezuelan Harp.

Carmen Elena was the only girl in a family of five children and earned her reputation as La Reina del Arpa by performing and touring with her mother, father and siblings.

Her love affair with the Venezuelan harp began when she was a small child and continues today.

Venezuelan music can be traced back to European and African cultures and Barreiro describes it as “a mixture of innovation and improvisation” and emphasizes that the players don’t read the music but learn to play by ear.

So this talented harpist does not limit herself.

In addition to her experiences, she has also studied Celtic harp and after Barreiro noticed similarities between African music and Venezuelan music, she adopted the style of the kora (African harp-lute)–using the African style of repetition to emphasize rhythms.

The result is that she and adapts easily and can play any type of music.

Her works are hard to find but include Solo Arpa, The Family Reunion, La Reina del Arpa, and Los Hijos de la Casa Grande.

Above: Video excerpt from Carmen elena Barrerio’s Solo Arpa.

You can listen to the Venezuelan harpist recordings here.

Angel Harps was thrilled to have koto player, Reiko Obata as one of our talented concert performers in 2004 & 2005.

Reiko Obata has been playing the traditional and contemporary music on the Japanese koto for more than 20 years.

This koto player studied under masters in both the U.S. and Japan such as Mde. Masazumi Mizuno in San Diego, Mde. Kayoko Wakita in Los Angeles, and composer virtuoso Shinichi Yuize in Tokyo.

Obata also studied music at San Diego State University and the Seiha Conservatory of Japanese Music.

Her works include Serenity, Sound of Kiri and East West.

Her DVDs include You Can Play Koto and Chieko and the Pine: A Japanese Folktale which is also available as a book, Chieko and the Pine.

Above: Koto player Reiko Obata performs with two other zither players.

Japanese Koto

The Japanese koto is a zither (stringed instruments in which the strings do not extend beyond the sounding box) and early documentation indicates that the Japanese koto dates from the 16th century.

It is a long, hollow instrument made from Paulownia wood, also known as the Empress Tree (kiri), and the Japanese koto is the official national instrument of Japan.

This six foot long zither is inspired by crouching dragon symbolism and so its parts are named after the creature and are referred to as dragon-head, dragon-back, and dragon-legs.

The koto has 13 similarly sized strings made of silk (or nylon) and is played with three plectra (picks) made of ivory (or plastic) that are fitted into leather bands and then placed on the harpist’s index finger, middle finger and thumb.

You can try playing an online Japanese koto now.