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How many people play the harp in
Nebraska?
More than one might expect, as shown by the
numbers of harpists who have performed in a unique
concert experience over the years. The most recent
ensemble concert, "Harpening 2007" on October 27 featured twenty-nine Midwest harpists onstage at
First United Methodist Church in Omaha. The Great Plains Chapter of the American Harp Society sponsored the event.
History of the Omaha "Harpening"
concerts ~
"Harpening" was created in 1988 by Anita Clark Jaynes and friends as a means to gather area
harpists and to provide them and the concert-going public a
local experience of ensemble harp music. The
second Harpening, in 1989, attracted 39 harpists from the
greater Omaha area and surrounding States. Harpists who performed were students, amateurs and professionals, some with 30 years
of experience and some just beginning to study the harp. There
were 1,400+ strings on stage and the total value of
the instruments involved was about $500,000. The concert
played to a packed house and a tradition was
born.
"Harpening 1991" drew 29 harpists to the Strauss Performing Arts Center
on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus
- For
the "turn of the century" in 2000, a harp quartet performed in Joslyn Art Museum's "Bagels and Bach" concert series and in Fremont and in Lincoln, Nebraska,
using the Harpening name and continuing the
tradition [Kathleen Wychulis, Jody Pesek, Heidi Heunefeld, and Karen Conoán]
- In 2002, fourteen harpists
gathered for a Ron Price Healing Harps workshop and a Harpening concert at the Performing Arts Center at
Millard West High School
- For "Harpening 2003" "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was the theme and the concert took
place on the UNO campus with 26 harpists. Ticket proceeds were donated to Children's Hospital in Omaha
to benefit arts and music programs for patients, in memory of
Dylan Krajicek, a young victim of cancer.
- Twenty-three harpists performed on April 15, 2004 for Harpening 2004 with the theme "On Wings of Song"
- October 16, 2005 Harpening 2005-- included 26 Midwest harpists, conducted by Jennifer Bloomgarten.
- Harpening 2007--Harvest Hornpipe Twenty-nine harpists performed in ensemble at First United Methodist Church in Omaha on Saturday October 17 to a capacity crowd.
- October 31, 2009 - HARPENING 09 at First Plymouth Church, 2000 "D" Street, Lincoln, NE 68502 To participate or for publicity info, contact keconoan@cox.net Registration deadline, September 30 2009
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