Harpists are mourning the loss of Ken Gist (1962–2018). A talented harpist, composer, and arranger, he was principal harpist with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and was previously a member of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling...
—by Dr. Cathy Clayton, student of Dr. McLaughlin, and Kelly Marie Harris, daughter of Carrol McLaughlin In Dr. Carrol McLaughlin’s family, there was a tradition that everyone was to choose an instrument at the age of 4, and she chose the harp. Carrol grew up in...
Remembering Jeanne Chalifoux –by Rebecca Anstine Smith My first encounter with Jeanne Chalifoux was at the Salzedo Summer Harp Colony in Camden, Maine, where she gave lessons while her aunt, the legendary Alice Chalifoux, played at the Blossom Music Festival. To this...
Paul David Wren (1964-2017) was a beloved member of the Mile Hi Chapter of the American Harp Society in Colorado. He served as principal harpist of the Aurora Symphony for 14 years, played for various local groups including the Colorado Wind Ensemble, the Evergreen...
Wilber “Corkey” Christman, 80, died October 16, 2017, in Schenectady, NY. His wife Patricia died in 2014; surviving are daughter Laura Sodders, and sister Alice Gingery and her children and grandchildren. Corkey took early harp lessons with Betty Fuller Meiners and...
Harpists are remembering Ángel Padilla, who died suddenly on Friday, July 21, 2017. Born in Mexico City, Padilla studied at Indiana University and the Royal College of Music, in London, and was beloved by harpists around the world. He served as a member of the Board...
Remembering the French Harp Pedagogue —by Isabelle Moretti I don’t know how I am going to talk about Germaine! How can you write a eulogy about somebody so alive? I can already hear her laughing! She had a full laugh—in-your-face, generous; it was a smoker’s laugh, a...
Grand Dame of the harp Germaine Lorenzini passed away peacefully at her home in Lyon, France, on Saturday, February 4, 2017. The news came as a sad shock to not only close friends and family but to harpists around the world. A passionately dedicated pedagogue, she...
Joan Mainzer Kishkis, principal harpist with the Minnesota Orchestra for 40 years, died on December 15, 2016, at age 88. Born in Rochester, N.Y., Kishkis grew up in Erie, Pa., where she began playing harp around age 9. After summer studies with Carlos Salzedo, she...
Harp Column is sad to learn that Pamela Campbell Vokolek, age 76, died of cancer on November 5, 2016 on Bainbridge Island, Wash. Vokolek was harp teacher at the University of Washington School of Music from 1968-2007, during which time she also performed with many...
