Harpist Penny Howk Beavers (1942–2025) was born on August 30, 1942, to John and Aileen Howk, in Joliet, Illinois, where she began her study of the harp at age five, guided by her mother whose loving instruction led the way to a legendary career, as a professional...
Harpist Barbara Jeanne Belew passed away at the age of 95 on Feb. 13, 2025. She was born Nov. 1, 1929, to Horace Russell Belew and Mattilene Lloyd Belew in Plainview, Texas. Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles (Louisiana) published the following tribute: “During...
Somerset Folk Harp Festival founder Mary Geraldine “Gerry” Nitsch Serviente passed away on Jan. 24. The Somerset Folk Harp Festival shared the following tribute on social media: “Gerry’s vision and dedication shaped the Somerset Folk Harp Festival into what it is...
Composer and Harp Column Music artist Daniele Garella passed away on Nov. 12, 2024. Born in Florence, Garella graduated in composition and choral conducting and in counterpoint harmony and fugue from the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence. In addition to...
With her husband and children by her side, Ruth Anne Myers-Brown passed away on July 20, 2024, in Victoria, B.C., after a long illness. Growing up in a musical family, Ruth played piano and bassoon, then, while at summer music camp in 1969, she fell in love with the...
Harpist Amy Christine Ley McIntosh passed away peacefully at home on November 9, 2024, following a courageous two-year battle with breast cancer. Amy was a beloved member of the musical communities in both her home state of Michigan and her adopted province of...
Following the passing of harpist Deborah Fleisher on Sept. 29, the Peabody Post published the following tribute shared by her sister, Leah Fleisher. (Deborah Fleisher was an alumna of the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, earning her Artist’s Diploma...
Leland “Lee” Franklin Caulfield, 94, passed away on October 24, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. Born on April 26, 1930, in San Francisco, Lee grew up in Mill Valley, Calif., with his parents, Luise and John Caulfield, and three brothers. Lee graduated with a degree in...
Robert “John” Gill passed away at home on May 26, 2024, with his loving wife of 38 years, Mary Radspinner, at his side. John fought a courageous battle with small-cell carcinoma for two years. John was best-known in the harp world for Melody’s Traditional Music retail...
The Ontario Chapter of the American Harp Society announced the passing of Canadian harpist Marie Emma Lorcini on its social media outlets, sharing the following tribute posted by one of her children: “Marie Emma Lorcini (née Iösch), of Greensville, Ontario, passed...
