Anna Thormahlen Jenkins: upcoming dates...

Lisa Fishman and I, as Pacifica String Ensemble, played our cello and harp duets for a reception at this national convention. Big thanks to Dave and his grandson for helping us carry all our gear! We also appreciate the nice comments from our audience!

Don and I provided the music for the service today, which included a prelude, 2 hymns, 2 meditations, and a postlude. With the harp playing melody on the hymns accompanied by chords on the guitar, a calm alternative to the piano is created. The congregation liked this change of pace and commented on how it created a unique serenity.

It was a lovely day of sharing music at Liz's house! Beth Kolle visited and listened to us play a new composition for ensemble harps that she is preparing for publication. We also worked on Beth's lucious arrangement of Shenandoah, and others from her ensemble books, The Wandering Folk Harp and The Harp Ensemble Book. And Liz's garden was gorgeous!

Elvira, my black Thormahlen Serenade harp, traveled all the way to North Carolina to "sing" at this very special wedding in our family. She was accompanied by a guitar and violin; together we will played lovely waltzes and Celtic tunes before and during the outdoor ceremony. Maria floated down the aisle to a special song arranged just for her. She and Micah were married by her cousin and my daughter, Rev. Jennifer Jenkins Gill. It was wonderful!

What a fabulous Fort Worden Puget Sound Folk Harp Society festival retreat we had this year! The workshops were unique and informative. Judith Cummings' workshop on arranging was extra special with her renditions of Scottish tunes and original tunes. Harper Tasche led us through two sessions of playing music together, the first teaching us new tunes, and the second guiding us through our own handbook as we took turns choosing tunes. Laurie Riley presented a most helpful workshop on ergonomic issues for harpers. Sharon Thormahlen, Diana Beaumont, and Valerie Day assisted me by being "Sixties Divas" and sectional leaders in the workshop I presented on ensemble playing. Our featured tune was "California Dreamin'" which came together with 35 harps on 3 different parts, 2 tambourine players, and Beth Kolle on that universally-known flute solo. On Saturday night we had a grand ceilidh led by our wonderful queen, Patrice Haan. Three sets full of dance, song, poetry, stories, and lots of music will be remembered by us all for a long time.

Wow! What a great folk harp conference this was! Here are some highlights: 1) an all-day (9am to 5pm!) workshop with only 15 people in it with Maeve Gilchrist as our teacher!!! 2) playing an exerpt from "The Ash Grove" at the conference "Harp Tasting" on 15 harps made by many different harp builders 3) meeting wonderful people from all over the East Coast as they visited the Thormahlen Harps vendor booth 4) hearing great concerts: Alfredo Ortiz, Maeve Gilchrist, Frank Voltz, Rick Stanley and others 5) staying three extra days in Black Mountain, NC at the Cabin Creek Lodge cabin. 6) seeing the beautiful autumn views up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. See my pictures in the Photo Gallery for more!

The Eastside Harp Circle ensemble played a program at this lovely retirement center in Edmonds, Washington. Our program included some of our favorites such as Climb Every Mountain and Over the Rainbow, along with some ensemble works in 3-part harp harmony. Over delicious cookies and lemonade offered by the staff, we answered the residents' questions and had a good visiting time together. It was a fun day of harping!

What a delightful Eastside Harp Circle meeting we had at Diana's house celebrating Bastille Day! We shared our French songs, ate delicious treats including tasting Diana and Michael's French champagne, and played music together. Lots of laughter and joy - AND sunshine in Seattle - finally. Today was a glorious day!

It just doesn't get any better than this, we have decided: having nearly all the people with whom you love to play music, in one place, at one time, playing, singing, dancing, laughing, eating, and enjoying a sunny summer evening in Seattle - and life in general - together! Big "thank-yous" from us to all the people who came and made this day special for Don and his family! (Pictures forthcoming...)

After over a month of cool and rainy weather, today dawned clear and blue. The Barton's garden in Burien, Washington was spectacular with it's various vistas and seating areas. I played from 11:00 to 1:30 near a hedge that had a large circle carved out so that you could see through to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains!

Our Eastside Harp Circle played beautifully for this group of about 60 friends and members of St. Hilda St. Patrick's Church. Our program included hymns, ensemble pieces, and fun singalong songs. And the food was both delicious and beautiful - very English indeed!

What a joyful day this was! The wedding couple, complete with groom in kilt, watched family and friends perform songs, poems, stories and dances for them. And the sun was shining!

We had a good rehearsal today in preparation for both the upcoming wedding ceilidh and the High Tea. The pieces are coming together nicely!

Many people came together to celebrate the life of Rev. Silversity Madrazo, my friend from Bethany United Church of Christ in Seattle. Many clergy representing the local and national UCC were present and addressed the congregation as well as speakers who knew Silversity in other parts of her life. The music was provided by the Wayside United Church of Christ organist, my harp solo consisting of a medley of hymns, and a beautiful song from the Japanese Peace Chorus.

Silversity's life inspires us to live fully as well as fearlessly. As an ordained minister, Silversity served throughout the world - Bengladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Yakama Nation, Seattle. She was also a teacher in the Seattle Public Schools and a former Board Member of Bethany UCC. We will miss her but will remember what she taught us.

What a lovely Mother's Day Tea this was! As each resident was brought into the tea room, they selected a beautiful flowered hat to wear. There were guests present as well as staff and we all enjoyed a lovely assortment of special cookies, fruits, tea and coffee.

What a lovely day of sharing and music we had! There were 9 of us sharing our solos and works-in-progress. We also worked on some new lead sheets together in preparation for our High Tea performance in June. And - as if that were not enough - the eats-and-treats were outstanding!

Harp music provided for a private memorial service.

A fun day of playing music and sharing at Liz's lovely home in Bellevue, WA.

This was a lovely time of sharing, planned by the chaplaincy of Eastside Group Health Cooperative, for the friends and family of those who lost loved ones during the past year. In addition to my harp prelude and postlude, the service music included a singing duo accompanied by guitar during as well as solo Amazing Grace on saxophone. Guests each received a small wooden heart upon arrival which they later placed in a basket as they shared a special memory of their loved one. Refreshments and fellowship followed the service.

During this Lenten worship service at Bethany UCC, the harp music helped to create a quiet and meditative atmosphere during the Imposition of Ashes. Selections included "Poor Wayfaring Stranger," "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley," and "Give Me a Clean Heart."

Our Tie-the-Knot event at Heritage Hall was quite lovely this year. Three special couples were married at different times during the day at Kirkland's historic landmark building just up Market Street from Marina Park in downtown Kirkland. Each couple had a unique and touching story and happily joined their lives together on Valentine's Day. Our "team" consisted of a judge, florist, wedding consultants, photographer, the City of Kirkland, and a musician - me! We all enjoyed making 2010 Valentine's Day memorable for our wedding couples. Check out KirklandWeddings.com which you will find at my Links section of this website.

What a great time we had at the annual "harp weekend" put on by the Puget Sound Folk Harp Society! Forty five harpers from all over the Pacific Northwest attended workshops and made music together. Workshop presenters this year included Paula Lalish, Laura Zaerr, Sharon Thormahlen, Seumas Gagne, and Harper Tasche; all were excellent!. The weekend also included time to jam together, eat together in the dining hall at Fort Worden where we stayed, opportunities to hike and explore, and of course check out the quaint shops in Port Townsend. Oh... and the ceilidh on Saturday night, with Ceilimistress Patrice Haan, was fantastic!!! (Check out "Birds of Blue Ridge" and "Tourner a Trois" on my website's "a few of my songs" section for some clips of our live performances.)

Christmas Day was extra special for us this year because we got to play and sing music at Covenant Shores! My husband Don played guitar and sang along with our son Chris; my mom Verna lent moral support (and helped carry our gear!). Christmas songs sung ranged from the sacred carols to secular favorites. A half-dozen or so residents assisted us on Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell Rock, Deck the Halls and several other tunes with their enthusiastic jingle-bell shaking! Afterward we enjoyed visiting with residents, drinking apple juice, and meeting Carol's dog, Callie, along with her daughter and granddaughter who were all visiting.

It was a beautiful Christmas Eve service at Bethany UCC this year. The theme of "Light" shone throughout, beginning with a starlight processional to the song, Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace). Twelve people walked into the dark sanctuary carrying large stars lit from within and formed a starlit aisle for everyone to pass through as they found their seats. Musicians for the evening included Miranda on violin, Frank on string bass, Charlie and Don on guitars, Val singing a beautiful solo (I Wonder As I Wander), Philemon on piano, and me on my Thormahlen Koa Swan harp. All these together made a lovely accompaniment to many familiar hymns and carols sung by the congregation. We ended with our tradition of passing the flame until each person's candle was lit while singing Silent Night.

Val and Otelia were amazing hosts at their lovely Christmas parties for their residents and families, both at their Alki Family Home and their Genesee Family Home (on 12/11). An awesome smorgasbord of beautiful goodies which included Romanian delicacies was provided. I enjoyed playing Christmas music... and eating Otelia's cabbage rolls and other treats!

The Eastside Harp Circle played for nearly an hour at the Seattle Children's Hospital Harp-a-thon, which benefitted those needing care who do not have insurance. For 12 solid hours, harp music was provided by Seattle area harpists and harpers on two stages in the cafeteria. There were eight of us performing together at this event. It was exciting for us to play The Snowfall Waltz, arranged by Beth Kolle, with the song's composer, James Lough, in the audience!

My good friend and awesome vocalist, Kimber Godsey, and I sang and played a set at the SCCA's annual Holiday Party for patients and their families. Several enthusiastic attendees joined in with us and we rocked! Thank you, SCCA, for all the great work you do!

We Eastside Harp Circle harpers played our program of holiday music at this very lovely care center for the memory-impaired in Edmonds, Washington. We were welcomed so warmly and even were given tea and cookies at "intermission"!

The University of Washington Bothell Campus Business Program had a lively holiday party attended by staff and their families. I got to play holiday music sitting next to a beautiful tree and fireplace. There were lots of excited children there; some even sang for the group, including one group of 4 siblings!

Pacifica String Ensemble made up of cellist Lisa Fishman and I played music for this well-attended event. WineStyles of Issaquah provided wine tasting while guests networked prior to attending 3 rotating classes.

Don and I provided harp and guitar music for Brenna Murphy and Andrew Drennen's wedding at the beautiful Villa Academy Chapel in Seattle. Music selections were chosen by the bridal couple and included Franconia Waltz, Lover's Waltz, and The Summons (sung by Don to the Irish tune, Shearin's No For You) along with Pachelbel's Canon in D for the processional. The bride - our goddaughter - looked radiant!

My daughter, Jennifer, married Andy Gill on this beautiful, end-of-summer day in Seattle. We had a wonderful 5 days of activities that included seeing old friends and meeting new ones, getting to know Andy's family from Wisconsin, catching up with our relatives, games and hikes, a fun rehearsal dinner at Golden Gardens with an ethnic heritage theme that included a family tree display made with heirloom photographs, a beautiful church wedding ceremony at University Presbyterian Church, a fun reception in an old restored ferryboat on Lake Union, and a day-after wedding brunch on Lake Washington. We loved every minute!

What a lovely evening it was out in the garden off the Apple Blossom wing of the Covenant Shores Health Center! Many residents joined me next to the fountain for songs from Italy, the British Isles, and familiar American folk tunes.