Winter Harp Ensemble

The Winter Harp Ensemble has captured the spirit of the season, along with people’s hearts, for almost two decades – and remains a popular draw on the holiday calendar. The Ensemble consists of a talented group of harpists, flutists, singers and percussionists. Now in its 18th season, the Winter Harp Ensemble will perform 15 Western Canadian dates, including a Saturday, December 17 evening concert in Vancouver’s beautiful Vancouver’s St. Andrews-Wesley United Church.

Jeff Pelletier
[Jeff Pelletier]

Winter Harp is a celebration of the Christmas and winter season with hauntingly beautiful carols combined with the glorious sound of harps. This year, Winter Harp is delighted to announce the addition of legendary harpist and storyteller Patrick Ball. Patrick is considered one of the premier wire-strung Celtic harpers and spoken word artists in the world today. He has recorded nine instrumental and three spoken word albums which have sold over half a million copies internationally, and have won national awards. Ball is in constant demand throughout North America, Ireland, and the UK.

”I first saw Patrick perform at the Rogue Folk Club in the 1990s,” says Winter Harp director Lori Pappajohn. ”He was absolutely mesmerizing. Since then I have always hoped to work with him, and am thrilled to be sharing Patrick with our audiences across Western Canada this year.”

Joaquin Ayala
[Joaquin Ayala]
 
Winter Harp’s outstanding musicians, dressed in medieval attire, will perform a collection of music from well known carols to Celtic, medieval, world and Spanish tunes. Dozens of candles light the stage, providing an atmospheric backdrop for the golden Celtic and classical harps, drums, tambourines, temple bells, flutes and an assortment of rare 12th century instruments.

Rare instruments include the ethereal-sounding bass psaltery (one of a kind in the world), the symphonie (a medieval ancestor of the hurdy-gurdy), and the Swedish nyckelharpa.

Janelle Nadeau
 
The Winter Harp Ensemble musicians:
Lori Pappajohn: Director, Celtic harp and voice
Janelle Nadeau: Celtic harp, voice

Esther Cannon: classical pedal harp, voice

Lauri Lyster: percussion, voice

Jeff Pelletier: flute, alto flute, bass flute, wooden piccolo, recorder

Joaquin Ayala: nyckelharpa, bass psaltery, symphonie, organistrum

Caroline Márkos: voice
Patrick Ball: narrator, wire-strung Irish harp


Winter Harp Ensemble
Date: Saturday, December 17, 7:30 pm
Venue: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $37.25, available via Tickets Tonight (either by phone 604.684.2787 or online), Zulu Records, and Celtic Creations

Other Lower Mainland concerts: December 14 & 15 at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts (Capilano University) and December 18 at The ACT in Maple Ridge.

1 Comment

  • Comment by Gerry & Audrey Hall — September 21, 2013 @ 11:01 am

    Hello,
    We represent Northwood United Church who has been putting on a well
    established Jazz Vesper Series and now are branching out to do
    a Northwood Concert series.

    We would like to discuss the possibility of having your group
    perform at Northwood United Church this Nov. Dec. 2013.

    Please contact us at nusign4u@yahoo.ca or by phone at 604-599-5990

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