Featured Presenters

As a member of The United States Army Field Band, Grace Bauson has toured across the country and abroad at the Norwegian Military Tattoo.

Her journey with the harp began at age nine under her teacher and mentor Ms. Elizabeth Richter, and now she enjoys passing on her musical knowledge to others. An accomplished instructor, her students have won scholarships and successfully advanced to the top ensemble of the American Youth Harp Ensemble, performing in numerous national and international tours to Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Vienna, Austria.

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS

What is music? You know it when you hear it, right? But have you stopped to think about what makes it unique, different from the noises you hear in everyday life? Together we will explore songs from different times, places, and people as we discover what truly defines the concept of music.

Eve Watters has been with us most every year, and thankfully, she will be returning again in 2021!! Eve is always a treasure trove of delightful “Tunes & Tales.”

Eve has gathered firsthand experience with traditional folk music while living in Burma and England, studying Celtic harp in Ireland and performing for thousands of audiences around the U.S., Britain, Australia and Brazil. Along the way she’s amassed a repertoire of rare
delights and favorite old tunes and tales!

Sit back, relax and enjoy master Celtic Harper and Storyteller, Eve Watters.

This year, Kate has fashioned a whole new workshop, Two Hands, One Heart, introducing us to her wise and gifted approach to making music truly Musical! Learn to reach for those beautiful tones as you inspire and touch your audience!

Kate Tamarkin has enjoyed a long and successful career as a symphony conductor, musician and teacher. She has a special interest in the relationship between music and healing, and is a Certified Music Practitioner on the harp. Kate is the creator and Program Coordinator for Music by the Bedside, a very successful program at Hospice of the Piedmont. She recently retired from UVA’s College of Arts & Sciences and music director of the Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra.

One of Tamarkin’s favorite sayings is “Where words fail, music speaks.”

World-renowned harp maker, Howard, Bryan, generously shares his knowledge gained while restoring harps from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries including crochet action, single action, double action and lever harps. Howard shares his vast knowledge and expertise with us as he reveals critically important practices required to maintain and protect our harps.

Virginia Schweninger is a harpist and harp instructor. She has a friendly studio of harp students of all ages in Charlottesville at the Music Emporium and at home in Nelson County.

Virginia’s students enjoy performing together in ensemble and as soloists. She was previously Adjunct Harp Professor at Lynchburg College and Sweet Briar College. Her CD, Somewhere in Time won the 3rd Place Just Plain Folks Indie Music Award for Best Solo Instrumental 2006 to 2009. Her Harps of Gold Concerts, featuring Harp Song of the Blue Ridge, have raised thousands of dollars for charities. Harp Camp Virginia began eight years ago and continues to thrive in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Sherry Whaley will lead us in two sessions of Floor-Barre, dance-inspired conditioning which helps harpists develop grace, balance and agility.

Sherry has been an active student, teacher, dancer and advocate in the dance community in Central Virginia since her move to Charlottesville. The Zena Rommett Floor-Barre® is a training method that promotes body alignment for dancers and non-dancers, athletes, the injured, elderly and everyone desiring the alignment, strengthening, and health benefits of this gentle technique.

Come loosen-up, breathe, and get your energy flowing to music. This is a low impact program based on ballet moves. Bring your yoga matte and wear comfy clothes for a late afternoon (or early evening) “cool down.”

Robin Eastham is a Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique who shares this valuable tool with performers, sportsmen and musicians of all types. This years workshop, in the barnyard of VesperWood, will help us all deal with the affects of performance anxiety.

She is also a Certified Animal Rehabilitator who she lives with quite a cadre of exotic and loving critters.

We will visit VesperWood Farm to meet her very grand camel, Jacob, two elderly yaks, a small herd of alpacas, a mini donkey, Harold the gentle Emu and her sweet mini therapy horses, goats and chickens.

Melissa Capone, our much beloved House Mother, works as an elementary school Special Education Teacher in Waynesboro, Virginia. She and her husband, Gary, enjoy their harp-playing daughter, Emily’s music which she already uses to teach youngsters about the harp. This will be Melissa’s fifth year at Harp Camp where she has gained quite a reputation for her amazing patience and joyful creative approach to virtually everything!

She says she can’t read music, but keeps coming back because Harp Camp is so relaxing ... and she loves her campers!