CARLA BRAY - harpist

I just had to share a bit about the beautiful Yamashiro Restaurant in Hollywood, a location where I am on the preferred vendor list. It was nice to be back this spring/summer for the wedding season.

I have performed at Yamashiro’s “outdoor” garden many times. It’s simple beauty makes a calm and serene setting for a wedding. For those who have never been there, this garden is in the center of the restaurant, with a light cover overhead that protects and shades the area slightly while still letting in the natural sunlight. Tables line the outside perimeter of the garden for the guests to enjoy.

I managed to catch a photo of the beautiful bride, Danielle, getting her photos taken before the ceremony starts.

Here are some photos from the front. Yamashiro Restaurant is up on a hill, so the views of Hollywood in the distance are amazing.

It was a night spent playing video games…well, sort of.

Video Games Live is a show of video game music performed by live orchestra (musicians from Golden State Pops Orchestra) and choir, combined with synchronized lighting and video. It was my first time playing at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, so I was looking forward to checking it out. The Nokia Theater is probably most recently known as the venue for the last several American Idol finale show, as well as the American Music Awards.

Some of the music featured was from recent video games, such as Silent Hill, Halo, Warcraft, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, Guitar Hero, and many others. I’m not a big video game player, so all the music was unknown to me going into the concert. My favorite music had to be the Super Mario game music; maybe because it was actually music that I recognized from back in the day!

Here are some photos that I took during the soundcheck a few hours before the concert.

Meanwhile, things were heating up across the street at the Staples Center. The evening of the Video Games Live concert just happened to be the same night as Game 7 of the playoffs between the Lakers and the Celtics. Yes, it was an extremely busy night in downtown LA.

Back to the show…the Nokia Theater was filling up fast! The place ended up being packed, which was surprising to me considering the number of people who were also hanging around the downtown area for the Lakers game.

Showtime!

Review of the concert can be found here on www.winintendo.net

The weekend of May 22-23rd was spent in San Pedro with the Golden State Pops Orchestra. The concert was all orchestral arrangements of Disney music from the original Disney Concert Library, complete with five soloists singing the featured “roles” from various Disney films that were featured. A video screen was behind the orchestra playing film clips that were coordinated with the musical score.

Narration was done by actress Chase Masterson.

For those who have never been to the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro before, it is definitely worth a visit. It’s a beautiful art deco-style theater that opened in the 1930’s.

Here are some photos from the stage before the concert started:

Selections included music from Mulan, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Pocahontas. The classic films were also featured, such as Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and The Rocketeer.

It would be hard to pick out my favorite moment from the show! I loved the music from The Rocketeer; that music you don’t get to hear very often. “The Battle Between Good and Evil” from Sleeping Beauty was fantastic; being able to watch the entire battle between the prince and the dragon with the live music was an incredible moment. The grand finale of the show was Beauty and the Beast, which is such a beautiful song.

Chase Masterson graciously posed for a photo with me. She also requested one beside the harp. She certainly had the perfect dress for it!

We received a nice review from the Press Telegram!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Look no further…come hear me perform with GSPO this weekend!

Golden State Pops Orchestra
Disney In Concert: Tale As Old As Time
Saturday 5/22 at 8PM
Sunday 5/23 at 2PM
Warner Grand Theater
478 W. 6th Street
San Pedro, CA

A concert of friendship & romance seen through the eyes of Disney. Chase Masterson (Leeta, Star Trek: Deep Space 9) will lead the narration as the GSPO & Vocal Ensemble perform with film clips from favorite Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Mulan and more. Song selections include: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, Beauty and the Beast, Bella Notte and Battle with the Forces of Evil adapted by Disney composers from the original Tchaikovsky Ballet.

I believe this is my fourth year performing for the Mother’s Day Brunch at the Virginia Country Club in Long Beach. I always love coming back. It’s a beautiful place with great food and friendly people.

The buffet was amazing, as usual. There was an absolutely gorgeous floral design that hung over the main buffet. Strands trickled down from the overhead chandelier down to the buffet tables. The design was done by Bits of Whimsy Floral Design.

The brunch is always very well attended. It’s always fun to people-watch and see everyone dressed up with their families celebrating the holiday. One visitor in particular was especially cute…

all photos courtesy of The Virginia Country Club

Spring is officially here…people are planning their upcoming weddings and events. With the great weather here in sunny Southern California, weddings and special events are often held outdoors. What could be better than harp music to go along with???

Harps are very sensitive and delicate instruments that require protection from the damaging outdoor elements; these elements can cause irreversible and permanent damage to the instrument. I know what you’re thinking; you’ve probably seen a beautiful photo on one of those wedding location directories of a harp in an outdoor garden setting, out in the sunlight with no overhead covering. Well, that makes for a good picture to help sell the venue, but completely unrealistic in terms of the actual needs of the harp and the harp player!

Harps can be easily damaged by the following outdoor elements:

• Direct sun - placing the harp in direct sunlight heats and dries out the wood, softens the glues in the harp, and can weaken or destroy the joints.

• Extreme heat or cold - the harp will expand and contract with temperature or climate changes, causing the drying and cracking of the wood, lacquer, and glues.

• Moisture - woods swell in high humidity, and can lead to future cracks in the harp.

Does this mean that any outdoor locations are out of the question for your event? Not necessarily - it just means that the location needs to have these features to keep the harp safe (and the harpist happy):

• Shade - can be provided by awnings, canopies, trees, umbrellas, etc. If your wedding or event is in the late afternoon, you may need two umbrellas to adequately shade the entire harp (the sunlight is at an angle at that time of day, and one umbrella is probably not enough)

• Protection from the elements - no direct sun, mist from fountains or waterfalls nearby, or high winds

• No extreme heat or cold - to protect the instrument, and the harpist! How can I perform my best for your event if it’s so cold that I can barely move my hands?

• Flat, stable surface - only pavement or wood will work. Lawns are NOT a flat or stable surface; the harp is top-heavy and can tip easily (I’ve heard horror stories from other harpists who have set up on lawns and had their instruments tip over)

• Level performance surface - as you know, pavement or brick is not always level, there are quite often slanted areas. After an hour of playing the harp sitting at an angle can be quite painful, I know from experience. So for the sake of my aching back, I appreciate being on as level a surface as possible!

Many hotels, restaurants, country clubs, and banquet venues that hold outdoor events on a regular basis will quite often be accustomed to having harpists perform there and will therefore be somewhat familiar with the harpists’ outdoor setup needs. Just ask the coordinator at your specific venue; they will be able to suggest the best setup…and to provide your event with umbrellas if needed!

Live music is such a beautiful addition to any wedding or special event. Feel free to contact me; I would be glad to answer any questions you may have about your specific outdoor venue in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Gabriel Valley.

Photo by Jim Kennedy Photographers at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa

Choosing your wedding ceremony music can be a bit overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. But I’m here to help! I have performed my harp for literally hundreds of weddings, and for just about every type of service you can imagine: Catholic Mass, Christian, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Non-Denominational, Persian, and Vow Renewals.

There are three main musical selections that will need to be made for your ceremony: Entrance of the Bridal Party, Bride’s Entrance, and Recessional. Here are some suggestions to get you started. And don’t worry; all these selections sound beautiful on the harp! These are all very traditional and favorite wedding music choices:

Entrance of Bridal Party

• Canon in D - Pachelbel
• Prelude in C - Bach
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring - Bach
• Air on a “G” String - Bach
• Air from “Water Music” - Handel
  

Bridal Procession

• Bridal Chorus - Wagner
• Canon in D - Pachelbel
• Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke

Recessional

• Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
• Ode To Joy - Beethoven
• Spring from “Four Seasons” - Vivaldi
• Trumpet Tune - Clarke
• Wedding March - Mendelssohn

Of course, if you have a special song in mind, let me know! You can also check my website for audio samples of some of these wedding music selections, or you can view my complete repertoire list.

Looking for wedding ceremony or reception music? Consider harp to set the perfect mood.

Photo by Becky Spencer Photography at The Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa

If you are looking for a harpist for your wedding or event, then you’ll definitely want to do your homework…

If you are price-shopping for the cheapest harpist available on your event date, you are taking a huge risk with the outcome and quality of your event. Remember, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. There are so many people out there calling themselves “professional harpists”. But not all harpists are created equal; they all have different levels of musical ability, training, and experience.

If your event requires an experienced musician, and the quality of the musical performance is important to you, then the selection of a harpist becomes a very important decision. If you’re simply looking for the visual ambiance created by a harp in the room and cost is the most important consideration, then you will have no problem finding a harpist from the large pool of “professional harpists” out there.

Here are some important questions to keep in mind when looking for a harpist:

• What kind of performance experience does the harpist have?
• Has the harpist performed for many events similar to your event? How often does he/she perform for this type of event?
• What styles of music do you want for your event? Does the harpist perform those styles of music?
• What education or training has the harpist received? Does he/she have a college degree in music?

Why is it important to find an experienced, seasoned harpist? A true professional harpist will have many advantages over hiring a student or a harpist with limited experience. Here’s what you can expect from a true professional harpist:

• Experience with performing all different types and styles of wedding ceremonies
• Assistance in making musical selections for the wedding ceremony
• Experience and ability to make instant decisions to accommodate any unexpected changes or delays in the wedding ceremony or party
• An extensive and varied musical repertoire that will include many different styles of music
• A professional harpist will arrive at your event prepared, on time, and ready to perform at their best!

Please contact me; I would be glad to answer any questions you may have about my experience as a professional harpist in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.

Photo: Christopher Lee Photography

September 26th was spent at the Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills Golf Course for Jason & Shelly’s wedding ceremony and reception.

The ceremony and cocktail hour were held outside the Clubhouse on the terrace overlooking the beautiful green of the golf course. It always surprises me just how hot September afternoons can be! Fortunately, the early evening started to bring some relief from the heat with a slight breeze.

photos: Storyteller Photography

This past weekend, I performed for a wedding in Santa Monica. I had never been to Michael’s Restaurant before, and it was a real treat. The restaurant has an incredible courtyard in the center, providing a lovely garden-like setting. What a great place for an intimate ceremony. The afternoon cooled off to give us perfect weather for an early evening summer wedding.

The courtyard was transformed at night, I wish I had photos to share! Next time…

How loud is the harp, you may ask? Harp music is generally loud enough to carry in most private homes, churches, and many public spaces. The harp on its own is never overpowering, which makes it perfect for background music.

Can the harp be amplified if needed? Yes, my harp certainly can! I can be easily amplified either with my own portable amplifier or my harp is equipped to be plugged into most any existing PA system. I use a 1/4″ instrument plug (aka, guitar plug or male plug) that goes directly into the harp. If there is an existing sound system at your venue that supports that type of plug, then I can easily plug directly into their sound system! A microphone can also work, though it’s not going to be as efficient and, depending on the microphone (they’re all different), it may not pick up the sound at all.

Just ask your event coordinator, catering director on site, or DJ - they will be able to tell you if the venue has a microphone or PA system available for your use. If not, I can bring my equipment for a small additional charge.

The amplified harp sound still stays true to the instrument; in other words, you’re not going to sacrifice sound quality and it will still sound like a harp. And don’t worry, it won’t be overpowering…your guests will still be able to carry on a conversation!

Here are some situations where amplification may be a good idea:

• events with 100 or more guests in attendance
• exceptionally large rooms
• widespread outdoor locations
• any location where the sound needs to carry a long distance or in multiple rooms

Why amplify the harp? Because if no one can hear the beautiful music that the harpist provides, then what’s the point? Plus, you’ll never have to hear your guests say, “The harp was just lovely, wish I could have heard it”.

Contact me if you need any further information for including harp music at your wedding or special event in Los Angeles or Orange County in Southern California!

This past Spring has been filled with a multitude of beautiful outdoor weddings near the coast! Here are just a few of them.

I’ve performed at Pines Park in Dana Point on several occasions over the past few years. It’s a beautiful, breezy park. Ryan and Danielle (the bride and groom)  provided a nice, roomy umbrella, which was the perfect size to shield the harp from the damaging rays of the sun.

La Palapa Del Mar in Long Beach. This is a lovely restaurant, situated right along the beach. There was a large paved area in between the restaurant and the sand, which was a great spot to set up the harp. The day was slightly overcast and cool. Todd and Thalinda picked a beautiful spot for their ceremony!

This month, I had the pleasure of performing at the Wayfarer’s Chapel in  Rancho Palos Verdes on Saturday evening. I had never been there before, so I was really looking forward to performing there. I had heard so many wonderful comments about the incredible beauty of the chapel, so I had imagined a pretty spectacular place. My expectations were not disappointed.

The chapel was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The architecture was beautiful with its natural wood and glass walls & ceiling showcasing the natural beauty outside.  Surrounded by towering redwood trees, gardens, and the ocean view, it truly was a sanctuary.

Views from the front

View from the back  of the chapel

Me with the happy couple, Warren and Allison.

The chapel is completely transformed at night.

Happy Mother’s Day!  I have played for the Mother’s Day brunch at the Virginia Country Club for four years in a row now. It’s always good to be back.

Then it was off to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Long Beach to perform the Durufle Requiem for the Long Beach City College choral concert with orchestra. It was a packed church for this concert, even on Mother’s Day!

So…you would like to book me to play harp music for a special event, party, or wedding! Fantastic!

What is the next step?

First of all, you can contact me to find out my availability and pricing. So that I can be completely sure of my availability, please be sure to include all the details possible about your wedding or special event. Here’s what I need to know:

• Date
• Times (beginning and end)
• City
• Specific location name (hotel, private home, etc.)
• Outdoor or indoor location

If I am available for your event and you decide to proceed with the booking, I will mail or fax you a contract. I require a $50 deposit to hold the date. Along with the contract I will also send you a questionnaire about your wedding or event. This way, I have all your contact information and all the other important details I need to help make your day a success! Be sure to fill out every section; every question is there because it is crucial for me to have that information, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Also, don’t forget to return the contract, questionnaire, and deposit check to me! I know it can be easy to let it sit around, especially if the wedding or event is many months away. Please remember, I do not consider your event officially reserved and booked until I receive the signed contract and deposit.

The contract balance is to be paid on the day of the event before the event starts. That way, the business stuff is out of the way ahead of time!

I am a harp player in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Interested in booking an event? Have any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m always happy to help!

Photo: Becky Spencer Photography

Weddings, receptions, corporate parties, bridal showers, baby showers, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays…all kinds of special events occur all throughout the year. Some months of the year tend to be much busier than other months. As a special event and wedding harpist in Los Angeles and Orange County, I have seen these regular trends throughout the past several years.

People are often shocked when I tell them that May and September are always two of my busiest months for weddings! June always comes to everyone’s mind when it comes to weddings, but many are going outside of that trend. Plus, being a harpist in Southern California, there is never a shortage of outdoor events throughout the year because of the weather!

Here are the busiest ‘peak’ months - these months book up early and fast, Saturdays and Sundays go first! If your event falls in one of these months, I would suggest booking as soon as it is possible.

Peak Months

• April
• May
• June
• September
• October
• December

Peak Dates/Holidays

• Valentine’s Day
• Easter Brunch
• first Saturday/first week in December (start of the holiday rush)
• Christmas eve

I usually book 6-8 months in advance or as last minute as the day before (in some unusual cases). In general, it is best to book an event as far in advance as possible, especially if your wedding or event is during a ‘peak’ month!

Live music is such a beautiful addition to any wedding or special event. Feel free to contact me if you need any further information for booking me as a harp player in Los Angeles or Orange County!

Photo: Becky Spencer Photography - from The Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa, CA

This past weekend I took a trip up to San Luis Obispo to perform with the symphony again.  I always love going up to SLO. Such a great place! I love the people there, the downtown area, and the beautiful hiking and biking trails nearby. I have my favorite restaurants that I always try to visit! If at all possible, I always try to make it to the Thursday night farmer’s market. A trip up to SLO always feels like a vacation, even though I’m really up there to work!

On the concert program for San Luis Obispo Symphony: Overture to Der Schauspieldirektor, K.486 and Exultate Jubilate, K.165 by Mozart. The guest performer was soprano Maria Jette.

Also on the program (the piece I performed in) was the Symphony No.4 in G Major by Gustav Mahler. I absolutely love the Mahler symphonies. I haven’t performed the 4th Symphony in many years, so it was a real treat to pull out the music again. The piece has a wonderful feel to it, plus some nice harp solo spots!

Looking forward to my next working vacation back up in SLO…

The contract has been signed, the music has been selected, the plans have been made…so what happens on the event day? How does it all work?

Arrival

I generally arrive to the event location and rolling the harp into the performance spot 30-45 minutes prior to my scheduled performance start time so I’ll have plenty of time to set up. If I’m bringing amplification or if I’m not familiar with the location, chances are I’ll be arriving a bit earlier than that.

Attire

For weddings, I tend to wear formal black so that I will fit in with/blend in with any color scheme. For other events I will be either wearing dressy black or other suitable attire/colors.

Change of Location

Ocassionally there may be a location change midway through an event (i.e., from one room to another, from wedding ceremony site to reception site, etc.). Since I have a lot of equipment to move (music stand, bench, and the harp itself), this will require a break in performance in order to pack up and move everything to the new location.

Assigning a designated helper ahead of time to give me assistance moving from one spot to another can allow for a much smoother and faster transition.

Outdoor Locations

The harp (and its player) needs to be on a solid, flat surface and in a shaded location. We most likely have previously discussed the needs for the specific location. Is an umbrella needed? Hotels and banquet venues will already have umbrellas for use. If an umbrella is required, please be sure it is set up and ready before my arrival; that way, we can avoid any unexpected delays. Is it especially cold? A heat lamp may be needed; hotels and banquet venues quite often have these available for use as well.

For further information, please read my blog article on outdoor location requirements. And, of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have about your specific venue.

Payment

Please arrange to have payment handed to me before I start the performance. This makes life easier for both of us; you won’t have to worry about writing a check or gathering the cash in the middle of your event, and I won’t have to hunt around for the person with my payment after I’m finished! It’s easier for both of us to take care of business beforehand.

Interested in booking an event? Have any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m always happy to help!

Photo by Scott Robert Photography - wedding at the Hyatt Huntington Beach

This holiday season has been a busy one, despite the economy! I’ve been very lucky this season; I’ve had many holiday events for clients I have been with for years, and I had a number of new holiday clients as well. Here’s one especially memorable Christmas event I wanted to share.

One of my new clients had their company Christmas party at the OC Pavilion Performing Arts Center, located in Santa Ana, CA. The building apparently used to be a Bank of America Headquarters, and since renovations in 1962 it now houses the OC Pavilion Theater, Ambrosia Restaurant and The Vault VIP Lounge. I had never been there before, so I was looking forward to checking out this new venue!

The lobby was holiday-picuresque with the Christmas tree and carolers. Guests mingled in the lobby before heading upstairs for dinner.

The dinner was held in the Ambrosia Restaurant, which is up above the theater. I was providing dinner music, so this is where I set up. Here’s the entry into the restaurant, complete with running water fountain behind the hostess.

The Ambrosia Restaurant has live musicians on a regular basis, so there was a small stage with sound system all ready to go.

The main restaurant before the guests arrived.

The Ambrosia Restaurant has many smaller private dining rooms available. Philippe Antoine, the General Manager, was kind enough to take a few of us on a tour later after the event was finished. Every room had a theme, and every room was elaborate and beautiful. What an amazing place! Here are just a few of the smaller rooms.

The Wine Cellar

El Presidente

The Lodge

I’ll have to check out the theater on my next visit. Such a beautiful venue! I’m looking forward to going back again.

Fall is always a busy time of year for weddings, just as busy as the Spring season these days! Here are tidbits from just a few of them.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is a French Gothic Cathedral located in Pasadena. It’s an absolutely gorgeous location for a wedding, both inside and out.

Me with the beautiful couple, Andy & Janice

last two photos: Joan Allen Photography 

Mark & Christina had their ceremony at the Orange Hill Restaurant in the city of Orange, with it’s widespread views of Orange County.

Had a more “laid back” wedding ceremony at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. This one took place in the Presidential penthouse suite for a smaller, more intimate group of friends and family.

The view from the balcony at night was amazing.

Other Fall ceremony locations included All Saints Church in Pasadena, Mission Lutheran Church in Laguna Niguel, Shutters of Santa Monica, and the Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia. Whew! I have been all over Los Angeles and Orange County the past few months!

Looking for wedding ceremony or reception music for your upcoming wedding? Consider harp to set the perfect mood.

This past weekend was spent up in San Luis Obispo. I was asked to perform with the symphony just a few weeks ago, so it was a bit of a whirlwind trip. Last time I performed with the SLO Symphony was the summer of 2007 so it has been a while since I’ve been there. They’re a great group to perform with, I’ve performed with them several times and I always welcome the chance to come back.

The program included Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, which is an orchestral suite of all the well-known pieces from the musical. It’s been years since I’ve played that piece so I welcomed the chance to dust off the music and play it again. Such fun music! The tunes were stuck in my head for at least a week.

The day consisted of a free afternoon open rehearsal and an evening concert. Both were very well attended, as you will see from the photos. Cohen Hall is such a beautiful place. I snuck out before the open rehearsal started to grab a few photos.

View of the stage from the audience

View from the stage

Sunday August 24th was the annual summer concert with Torrance Symphony, held outdoors at Wilson Park in Torrance. I have performed at this annual concert for many years now, and it’s always nice to come back each year and reunite with fellow musicians and friends.

It was a beautiful day with moderate temps and sunny skies.  A welcome change from last year’s rain!

The concert was well attended.

Everyone and his dog were there!

I performed for Easter Brunch at the Virginia Country Club, a location that I perform at regularly for Easter Brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch, and Thanksgiving. It was such a beautiful day, and a good turnout as usual. The VCC puts on a beautiful brunch every time.

This year included an Easter Bunny petting zoo, how cute is that? The kids just loved it.

Looking for the perfect setting for an elegant dinner this Valentine’s Day? Come to McCormick & Schmick’s in El Segundo! I’ll be performing all your favorite jazz standards and romantic ballads from 5PM to 10PM. Nothing says romance more than live harp music…

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant

Thursday February 14, 2008
Live Music from 5PM-10PM

2101 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, California 90245
(310) 416-1123

Photo: Becky Spencer Photography

The end of one year and the start of the next year always brings a time of reflection. 2007 has been a great year with many opportunities for me: the 2007 MTV VMA show with Kanye West, some great orchestral performances with great music, lots of parties and special events. And, of course, weddings…many, many weddings! I feel like I’ve been all over the Los Angeles and Orange County map this year…

Ryan & Cammie at The Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa (photos by Becky Spencer Photography)

Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica (personal photo)

Tran cocktail hour at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel (personal photo)

Scott & Kathy at the Surf & Sand in Laguna Beach (photos by Jim Kennedy Photographers)

Eric & Liz in Laguna Hills (photos by C. Van Rensburg Photography)

Steven & Monika at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest (photo by Carrera Photography)

Gary & Tiffany at Lawry’s in Beverly Hills (photo on a thank-you card from the couple)

Keith & Judy at La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes Estates (coming soon)

Looking for wedding ceremony or reception music for your upcoming wedding? Consider harp to set the perfect mood.

We’re here again - the holiday season. December is always a busy month filled with holiday parties, orchestra concerts, and church services.

This December has definitely been a busy one, but also a fun one! I’ve provided holiday event and party music for several private and corporate events. These were clients that have asked me back year after year so it’s like a reunion of good friends! Here’s a photo from outside one of the private home parties, the lights were so beautiful and I had to attempt to capture it:

I’ve also been fortunate to perform some amazing Christmas music this December: Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest by Conrad Susa, and Gloria by Francis Poulenc. The Carols and Lullabies is a recent work written for choir, accompanied by harp, marimba, and classical guitar. It’s absolutely gorgeous; I highly recommend finding a CD of the piece! It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit.

The Gloria by Francis Poulenc is a gorgeous piece for soprano solo, chorus, and orchestra. I performed it with full orchestra and 100+ member chorus. Here’s a photo I took during rehearsal from inside the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena:

Happy Holidays to all!

There’s nothing like live harp music to set the mood for a holiday home party or corporate event. Be sure to contact me for your event next year!

It was my second year in a row to perform for Thanksgiving Day at the Virginia Country Club in Long Beach. There are some places where I return to perform again and again, and I love being able to come back to a familiar and friendly place like the VCC. I was set up in the entryway near the window, which has a few couches and chairs nearby. It felt like I was in someone’s living room! The brunch hours were pretty quiet, but things definitely picked up for the afternoon seating!

As usual, the staff was terrific and the buffet was superb! It’s not really Thanksgiving without a big turkey…ice sculpture, that is. Or pumpkin pie…and LOTS of it!

It’s October…that means it’s Arts Month in the City of Long Beach! Lots of activities going on the whole month, check it out!

Last year (and again this year) the City of Long Beach Arts Council held a contest in celebration of Arts Month for the “Faces of Long Beach Artists”. I was chosen in 2006, along with 30+ other artists, photographers, actors, musicians, and dancers. We each got our photograph and a quote stating what the arts mean to us printed on banners that were posted throughout downtown Long Beach the whole month of October! I’m not technically a resident of Long Beach anymore, but my past residence there allowed me to squeeze in to the contest and bend the rules just a bit!

This year they have run the same contest, but they are running some of the banners from last year, mine included. So next time you are in Long Beach, look out for a banner with a photo of a harpist…

Photo: my banner from last year displayed on 7th Street

It was a Las Vegas weekend. I performed with Kanye West for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and at the Rolling Stone VIP Party at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Being a classically-trained harpist, I never thought I would get the opportunity to do this kind of work, that’s for sure! I have performed with Kanye West a number of times in the past when he’s done performances out in LA. He includes an all-female backup ‘band’ consisting of violin, cello, horn, trumpet, and harp!

Filming the VMAs was an all-day process, starting with rehearsal in the morning. Kanye was kind enough to pose for a pic with me at the end of rehearsal.

We filmed Kanye’s performance at the Palms Casino, Las Vegas in the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa. My favorite part of the suite was the outdoor Jacuzzi pool with the glass end wall. For the VMA show, the pool was drained and a temporary walkway was added. It was quite scary looking, but I got brave and took a walk out. What a spectacular view of the Strip from there!

Then it was time for rehearsal and sound checks in the afternoon.

Makeup, hair, and wardrobe…I’m ready to go!

Here’s a pic from the evening performance. You can view complete videos of our performance on the MTV website.

Photo: John Shearer

If that night wasn’t late enough, the next night was even later! We played a concert at The Joint, a club within the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. That performance started at 1:30AM! It was a bit tricky getting the harp up on the stage platform, but in the end it looked great. Here’s a photo from rehearsal and the VIP party.

Photo: Squires

Sunday August 26th was the annual summer concert with Torrance Symphony, held outdoors at Wilson Park in Torrance. I have performed at this annual concert for many years now, so I pretty much know what to expect…or so I thought!

It was a nice, cool, overcast day. We all rather enjoyed that for a change, since it is usually quite hot every year. Five minutes before the concert, it started to lightly RAIN! Everyone was shocked. By the middle of the first piece on the program, it started to POUR down rain. The sea of brightly colored sun umbrellas that were being used in the audience became shelter from the rain instead. Those die-hard fans stuck it out to hear the concert, though! Lucky for most of us in the orchestra, we were under a large tent…however, a gap in the back of the stage caused some of the percussion and brass players to do some fast shuffling to keep dry!

The rain stopped after about a half an hour. The sun made a few appearances here and there. Then the wind started to kick up. A gust of wind hit the tent just right which caused a pool of standing water to pour off the tent in back of the conducter with a loud SPLASH that went on for a good minute! The conductor thought there was some kind of electrical short behind him! We all had a good laugh about that.

Ah, the joy (and comedy) of outdoor events…

Last week I performed in the opening night concert and open rehearsal for the summer Mozart Festival, held annualy in San Luis Obispo, CA. I’ve performed various orchestral concerts as a harpist in San Luis Obispo over the course of many years, and I always love going back and spending a few days there! I was fortunate to have a lot of down time in between rehearsals and practice sessions to be able to go out and enjoy the city. I went to the Thursday night Farmer’s Market, attended a free outdoor concert at the Mission, and went to Big Sky Restaurant, one of my favorite places there in town (and a major supporter of the Mozart Festival). It was also great to find so many familiar faces in the orchestra; there were many musicians who came up from Los Angeles so I had plenty of friends to hang out with and catch up with. It was like a mini-vacation…in between some very long and taxing rehearsals for the opening night concert!

There was only one piece in the concert that included harp, and that was the Daphnis and Chloe ballet suite by Maurice Ravel. There are two harps in Ravel’s orchestral score; that’s always a treat! Another Los Angeles harpist was up to perform 1st harp, and I played 2nd harp.

You’re probably thinking…Ravel in the Mozart Festival concert??? It’s all OK, since the theme of the concert was ‘A Night at the Theater‘ (and Mozart was still properly represented).

The open rehearsal and concert were held on Saturday, July 14. I performed with a 70-member orchestra and chorus. The program included various operatic arias by Mozart, and also the Daphnis and Chloe ballet suite by Ravel. The performance featured a video production set to the Daphnis and Chloe music, with a large video screen set behind the orchestra and chorus. Lithographs by Marc Chagall were projected on screen which depicted the adventures of Daphnis and Chloe and their life together.

Last week seems to have inadvertently become the “Ladies Only” week of events!

One event was an afternoon tea held at a private home in Huntington Beach. I have performed for this client for many years, so it’s always fun to go back. My client invites all her lady friends for an afternoon tea party every year or two. All the ladies come dressed in their fancy dresses and hats, some were even prepared with their white gloves! This afternoon tea was complete with tea sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream, and assorted pastries (and tea, of course). YUM! Wish I had brought a camera to share a photo…next time for sure!

Another event was a bridal shower in Newport Beach at the Island Hotel, complete with a mime and a caracaturist! A kind and talented photographer shared his talents and sent the photo above. Thanks Michael!

Need an Orange County harpist for your upcoming event? Event and party music for all occasions, please contact me with any questions!

Photography by Michael Munson

I performed last night for a wedding and cocktail hour at the Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. I had never been there before; what a beautiful venue! The wedding was held in a very large banquet room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean.

I performed in a trio consisting of violin, cello, and harp. This is an unusual combination, but very effective! It’s always fun to play music with friends…

Thinking of a duo or trio for your wedding music in Los Angeles or Orange County? Harp music is beautiful on its own, but harp also sounds amazing when paired with flute or violin, or in a trio with flute, violin, and/or cello. All combinations with these instruments are possible! Contact me for more information about forming the perfect live music and classical music ensemble for your wedding or special event.

Photo: Carla Bray - harp, Alisha Bauer - cello, Lisa Weinstein - violin

I performed for Easter Brunch at the Virginia Country Club, a location that I perform for several holidays throughout the year. Always a nice place to be, such great staff and well organized events. And the food! I could go on and on…

The Easter Bunny was kind enough to take time out from playing with the kids to pose for a picture!

I had the pleasure to perform last night for a champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception at Eddia, a store that specializes in men’s clothing & accessories on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. They had me set up in the store window…I’ve never been a window display before! There I was, in between the shirts and shoes. I did get some great entertainment of my own just watching the people on the street react to seeing a live harp player in the store window display! See, you can get all kinds of entertainment in Los Angeles…

Very nice staff there; they really made the evening the success that it was. I met a very cool and talented photographer as well, as illustrated by this photo taken at the reception! Thanks Adam.

Need a Los Angeles harpist for your upcoming event? Event and party music for all occasions, please contact me with any questions!

Photo by Adam Latham Photography

A fond look back…

Here’s a clip from “Tony Bennett: An American Classic“, released on DVD in November 2006. Look for the harpist in the background to the right of Stevie; it’s a bit dark but that’s me!

This song won a Grammy Award last night for the category of Pop Collaboration with Vocals

Back in November, a very nice man named Ken contacted me. He wanted to surprise his wife Isabel on her 40th birthday (which happened to be on New Year’s Day) with live harp music to wake up to, followed by a private yoga class in their home! Wow, what a great husband! I was very enthusiastic about the idea; I had never played for a yoga class before, and surprises are always fun…

So, at 8:30AM on New Year’s Day, Ken and I stealthily sneaked the harp into their living room. I started playing at 9AM. During my second piece, out of the corner of my eye I saw a head peek around the doorway (their 5-year old daughter). A few minutes later, I saw another head peek around the same doorway (Isabel), followed by hysterical laughter down the hallway. She was so surprised and absolutely thrilled! I continued to play music while the family enjoyed their morning together.

An hour later, the yoga instructor came. Isabel was treated to a one-on-one yoga class accompanied by live harp music! It was a bit of a physical challenge for me to provide an entire hour of uninterrupted music with no breaks, but lots of fun nonetheless. Wish I could have joined in on some of the yoga!

My time was finished after the yoga class, but Isabel’s birthday was just getting started – she was going out to lunch with her family, followed by a massage at a day spa. What a great way to start the New Year!

On December 14 I performed at the Doubletree in San Pedro. Formerly the Marina Hotel, they have completely renovated the hotel and had their grand opening celebration under their new name. It’s a beautiful hotel just right along the Marina. Their Grand Opening was definitely a success judging from the large crowd that showed up!

I didn’t get to sample the incredible looking appetizers floating around, darn! But when the valet brought my car around front, she smiled and handed me a shiny Christmas-y bag. Inside the bag was a tin of chocolate chip cookies! Yum…

Photo: Courtesy of the San Pedro Doubletree

I was fortunate enough to work with Tony Bennett twice this year: once in concert at the Kodak Theater in June, and for the filming of Tony Bennett: An American Classic in August. Talk about an experience I will never forget, meeting and working with Tony at the Kodak show was amazing! He was so gracious, laid back, and always smiling. I got a little choked up when he sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, just hearing those classic songs and being a part of it all…

As you can see by the photo, I got to meet Stevie Wonder after the filming of Tony Bennett: An American Classic. He was amazing. Here’s a little behind-the-scenes story:

There are always lots of filming breaks while they re-set all the cameras. During the long filming breaks, Stevie was quietly playing his harmonica. The guitarist and piano player were getting bored and they started quietly playing a jazz chart. Stevie was several yards away from them in the middle of the stage, but he was listening in and started playing the melody along with them! So in the middle of all the loud voices and equipment moving in between takes, there was this very quiet jam session going on in the background. It was such an incredible thing to witness!

Tony Bennett: An American Classic can be seen tonight (11/21/06) on NBC at 8PM (PST). It was also released on DVD today! You’ll see me on the duet “For Once In My Life” sung by Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder with full orchestra.

To keep up to date on all my upcoming performances as a Los Angeles harpist, be sure to check out my website!