FOR ORCHESTRA MEMBERS

 How to JOIN and about our MISSION

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

THE WORLD HARP ORCHESTRA features pedal harps, folk and ethnic harps and the small "therapy" harp. The concerts feature selections from different cultures. We come together to raise money for relief aid. There is a visual segment during the concert of people being helped through the organization with whom we are affiliated. The remainder of the concert is pure entertainment for the audience.The audience will be asked to help financially for relief-aid. We have many prominant harp soloists representing their ethnic backgrounds. World music is arranged for all levels of playing and all sizes of harps.  We add other instruments such as percussion, keyboard, voice, drawing from the talents of those wishing to contribute.

STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS

The outline of the program is as follows:. There are various sections, from soloist to orchestra member. Placements are based on: a) musicality b) ability to keep in rhythm and c) level of playing. A person may apply for "all" the sections - knowing if they did not make the most professional level that there will be a level that is suitable for them.

Participants offer their talents at their own expense as an offering to help bring about aid for helping the hungry and towards World Disaster Relief. It IS a personal commitment of travel, money and time, but those who feel called to be part of this movement will make it their priority.

It all began in the fall of 2003 during the 2003 Harmonic Convergence when Christina Tourin was listening to the radio just before President Bush was addressing the United Nations appealing for help with the war in Iraq. Prior to his entrance, the former President of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso,* gave the opening address. It was one of the most moving speeches she had ever heard. He spoke of the role of the UN to help alleviate the hunger that two-thirds of our world experiences. Only one-third of the people on this earth have enough food. He spoke of the need to reach out and help feed the world and stop paying farmers NOT to farm. At that point, she knew that the years that she had wanted to join the Peace Corps, being a teacher of harp therapy, and her life as a musician had come to a convergence. She envisioned harp therapy on a global scale. Immediately after the speech, she began working on the concept of The WORLD HARP ORCHESTRA to help in relief-aid. This is Phase 1 of the vision that will provide a way for other musicians to reach out with their music in a unified effort to help in the way they each knew how to do. Phase 2 of her vision is to have a orchestra with representatives of the 200+ countries come together and make music together. All in due time.

*Today when Cardoso speaks, people across the world listen. After two terms as Brazil's president, Cardoso is surely the most public sociologist in the world, a global figure who is currently advising the United Nations on how to incorporate global civil society into international deliberations.

Harpists in Japan

THE FIRST CONCERT CALLING

Our first tribute was held at St. Mark's Church in San Diego, February 2004, with 70 harp players present. The audience of over 500 was astonished to be completely surrounded by harp players lining the walls of the Church. The WORLD HARP ORCHESTRA opened with a Brazilian piece dedicated to the President Cardoso of Brazil. We performed with a Jazz band led by Peter Sprague. Featured soloists were Cindy Horstman, Christina Tourin, Sarajane Williams and Lisa Lynne. Dressed in red, the picture at the top of this page shows part of the group that performed in concert on that Valentine's Day.

THE SECOND CONCERT CALLING

BENEFITING the SALVATION ARMY

If anyone would like to join the WORLD HARP ORCHESTRA, please contact Harprealm@aol.com

THE Performance is scheduled for March 17, 2006 - St. Patrick's Day in San Diego

Featured performers are: Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, Sylvia Woods, Margot Krimmel, Bethan Hughes, Lisa Lynne, Sunita Staneslow, Rei Tokoro, Liehsja Blaxland-de-Lange, Joy Yu Hoffman, Christina Tourin and over 100 members of the World Harp Orchestra. Please join us in performance. The music will be mailed to you immediately! Satellite concerts are being set up around the country within harp circles and groups of people who are unable to make it to San Diego. If your group would like to be part of this fund-raising event whether at home or in San Diego, please contact us.