On September 23, 24 and 25, 2011, Dianna Woodley’s and two very special healing lap harps will visit Camp Victory in Millville, Pennsylvania for the camp’s Spina Bifida Week. The Camp Spifida Retreat is for adults ages 18 and older who are living with spina bifida.

On Friday, September 23, Dianna will present one healing lap harp to Camp Victory, to be used by its campers throughout the entire year, and another to Kelly Seiverling, a long-time Victory camper. Kelly was the first to realize the synergy in the missions of Camp Victory and Angel Harps, and she was the one who reached out to bring the two groups together. Years earlier, Kelly was also the camper who first challenged the previous age limit of 35 for the Camp Spifida Retreat – and now the camp has no upper age limit!

Kelly shares Dianna’s firm belief in the restorative powers of the healing lap harps that will soon be a new addition to the camp. Dianna is thrilled about her upcoming visit to Camp Victory and is looking forward to spending time with the 13 to 15 campers who will be enjoying several days in the idyllic foothills of central Pennsylvania. With the foliage and serenity of early autumn, the camp is sure to be a wonderful experience for all in attendance.

Camp Victory hosts special camps for an array of special needs groups throughout the year. The layout, design and facilities of the camp are geared specifically towards providing the most comfortable, safe and medically-equipped accommodations possible, all in the wooded natural setting of a more traditional camp. The camp’s facilities are available year-round, including an appropriately equipped “Med Shed” that serves as a mini-hospital for everyone who visits.

To learn more about Camp Victory, please visit them online at http://www.campvictory.org

Help Angel Harps share the tones of healing lap harps. Make your donation to today!

Update – New video added to YouTube.com

We have recently been visiting a dear friend who has been battling Gastroparesis for the majority of her life. Julie Blunt is an ongoing inspiration to all of us at Angel Harps and we are fortunate to be able to spend time with her and share with her the healing tones of the angel harp.

Julie has told us on multiple occasions that she finds the tones of the harp soothing, helping her to relax and rest, despite the frequent pain and discomfort that she faces. Gastroparesis is a rare disorder of the stomach and digestive system, which prevents the body from properly digesting food. As a result of the disease, Julie receives most of her nutrients intravenously and she spends quite a bit of time in the hospital dealing with the various complications that arise from long-term treatment for Gastroparesis.

Through it all, however, Julie’s spirit has remained strong and she writes regularly in her online journal to keep friends and family updated on her progress. You can read Julie’s story and learn more about her journey here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/julieblunt/mystory. We’ll continue to visit Julie throughout her journey, always offering the soothing sounds of the Angel Harp and drawing strength and hope from Julie’s unwavering courage and determination.

Support Angel Harps and the healing tone of the angel harp with your donation today!

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.