Harp Talk Radio Series Podcast Patrice Fisher

Susann McDonald and Linda Wood Rollo have been working together for more than 30 years, composing music, writing two highly acclaimed series of Harp Method books and teaching a generation of harp students. Their work together was instrumental in the formation of the World Harp Congress and the USA International Harp Competitions and well-loved compositions like Haiku for Harp. They have built one of the largest and most well respected harp departments in the world at Indiana University. For more information, visit their website at www.musicworksharpeditions.com.

This program is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Arts Council New Orleans.

Deborah Henson-Conant is a Grammy nominated artist, who sings & plays the harp, tells stories and composes symphonic music. She has made her own path, composing since age 12. She first studied classical harp, then she developed her own style, combining blues, swing and Latin Jazz, with storytelling and humor. Deborah has toured with the Boston Pops, premiered her own orchestral compositions, played at jazz clubs in Germany and Celtic festivals in France. In 2007, her one-woman show, Invention and Alchemy, debuted on PBS and was nominated for a Grammy award.

You can hear Deborah Henson-Conant perform and teach at the 2013 New Orleans Jazz and Pop Harp Weekend, June 6 through 9. For more information, go to www.neworleansjazzharp.com.

This HarpTalk program was sponsored by a grant from the American Harp Society and produced by the New Orleans Chapter. Our host is Patrice Fisher and our audio engineer is Carlos Valladares.

You can find out more information about Deborah Henson-Conant at www.hipharp.com.

Ismael Ledesma is a Paraguayan composer, & harpist.
His career as a musician started with his mother`s group, Los Madrigales.
His father taught him to play the harp at the age of 5.

In 1982, he travelled to Paris in order to join a circle of Latin American musicians, like “Los Guayakies”  with Pedro Leguizamon,  “Los diablos del Paraguay” with Pedro Ramirez, and “Los Tupi” with Rubito Luna, among others.
But in 1985, he decided to pursue a solo career.
In addition to his artistic activities, Ismael perfected his French, enrolling at the University of Sorbonne in Language and French Civilisation. He also became a student at the International Music Conservatoire of Paris, Alfred de Vigny.

Ismael has made 13 CDs with different producers: French, German, Swiss and Paraguayan.
He received the recognition "Personality of Latin America" by the French Senate for his cultural and musical accomplishments.
He has performed throughout the whole world; In Japan, in the US, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and the European countries.
He participates in important Harp Festivals, like the Prague World Harp Festival, The Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the Celtic Harp Festival Dinan, Harfentreffen Germany, at Stamford, England and many more.

He also takes part in Paraguayan events, such as the Festival Paraguaype and the World Harp Festival in Asuncion.
For more information, about Ismael Ledesma go to: www.ismaelledesma.com/index.php

Louise Trotter grew up in a musical family. Her father was a high school band director and he built her first harp by hand. She had musical training in piano and harp since early childhood, with more advanced studies at Texas Women's University and with Mildred Dilling in New York City. She was harpist with Beaumont Symphony, and Baytown Symphony for a number of years. Her interest in modern harmony led to studies with the leading pop and jazz artists in the country.
For more information, you can contact Louise at: Louiseharp@comcast.net
or go to:
www.louisetrotter.com

Barbra Bailey Bradley, originally from Canada, holds degrees from the
University of Western Ontario, the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music,
and Indiana University, where she studied both piano and harp.

Returning to the harp has redefined her musical career. She has recorded two
CDs of her harp compositions and arrangements – Straight from the Harp
and Harp-Felt. The printed music from these CDs is also available in three
self-published books. The Fantasy for Harp and Chamber Orchestra,
arranged for harp and piano, and two books of trios, Harpists Three, and
Vignettes, are also available in self-published format.

In addition to solo work, she performs with and directs the Heatherwood
Harp Ensemble, and has created compositions and arrangements for their
concerts, as well as other ensembles.
Ms. Bradley performs as harpist and pianist in Washington, DC, Maryland,
and Virginia, and teaches both instruments at the National Cathedral School
in Washington, DC.
Ms. Bradley is Treasurer of the International Society of Folk Harpers & Craftsmen, as well as
Treasurer and Annual Concert Coordinator for the Washington Area Folk Harp Society.

You can find more information about Barbra at http://www.beeharp.com/.

You can contact her at barbrabaileybradley@gmail.com.

Sadie Turner, 1st prize winner of the American Harp Society’s National
Competition, made her solo debut at age 18 with the Houston Symphony
Orchestra as winner of their High School Concerto Competition. As
a recitalist, she has performed throughout the United States. In the
orchestral arena, she has performed with the Houston Symphony, New
World Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Arkansas Symphony and the Rice
University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. During the summers, she has
also participated in several acclaimed festivals such as the Tanglewood Music
Center for two summers, the International Festival Institute at Round Top,
Texas Music Festival and the Salzedo School for Harp.