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Winter 2017 Newsletter
A Year in Review

Coming in 2018...

We are excited to announce the release of our second album "Dance Sketches" in April 2018! This CD took a lot of hard work and we are proud to announce that it is comprised of almost all original works written for Harp Quartet (plus a few of our most favorite arrangements).

This is a huge achievement for us and for the harp community. Five years ago, this type of CD would not have been possible. Since our foundation, the repertoire for our unique ensemble has grown tremendously, providing us with the opportunity to record some wonderful original harp quartet music.

This CD is entirely self-produced. You can imagine this is an extremely expensive endeavor. If you'd like to get involved to help support the release of the CD, please get in touch or simply go to our website to Donate.

If you pre-order online before March 30, 2018 you will receive a signed copy of Dance Sketches!

Mark your Calendars:
CD Release Party in Chicago ~ April 12, 2018

2017 in Review

The start of a new year is a great time to look back at the past and look forward to the next.  When looking back on 2017, we're really proud of what we've accomplished.  Here's a snapshot of our exciting year.

Cuban Dreams

Fundraising over $20,000 lead us to be able to travel to Havana, Cuba, donate two harps and bring a huge donation of strings, music and supplies for the harp community there.  Our first community project made possible by the support of amazing donors!

Dance Sketches

In May 2017, we spent over 35 hours recording our second CD set to be released in April 2018.  You can imagine how much time was spent simply tuning the four harps, but getting all four of us to agree on one take of a piece is another story! Don't forget to preorder yours today on our website  www.chicagoharpquartet.com

Allied Concert Services Midwest Tour 2017

Arlington Heights, IL
Hibbing, MN
Burlington, IA
Indianola, IA
Lebanon, MO

2018 Concerts

April 7, 2018                  6pm Ravinia Festival Concert
April 8, 2018                  2:30pm Norton Building Concert Series
April 12, 2018                7pm CD Release Party
June 3, 2018                   5pm Chicago Harp           Ensemble Spring Concert
July 27, 2018                 Concert in LaCrosse, WI.
July 28, 2018                 Concert in Winona, MN.
July 29, 2018                 Concert in Viroqua, WI. 
July 31, 2018                 10am Chicago Botanic Garden 

Member's thoughts: The ending of a great year.  

Julie’s 2017 highlights included playing backstage harp at Lyric Opera of Chicago, accompanying Matthew Polenzani in Bizet’s Pearlfishers. Her sidekick, Dax (5), entered Kindergarten, as well as debuted in his first piano recital around Halloween - dressed as Ironman. 

2017 was an joyful year for Lynn, welcoming her daughter Lucille Grace Claxon-Williams in August.  The year included many exciting performance and teaching opportunities including a concert on PBS Great Performances with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the World Premiere of Jimmy Lopez's opera "Bel Canto," and a Master Class at the Summer Institute of the American Harp Society.

2017 was the year of change for Catherine, and since moving to Los Angeles, CA she has been able to spend more time with family and has since started to learn floral design.  She has continued performing chamber music and orchestra music in CA and most recently performed and recorded the world premiere of a piece by James Tenney "64 Changes for 6 Harps." 

Since Emily’s move to Australia she has performed with the Sydney and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Opera Australia Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria (Melbourne). She adopted two kittens, Marcel and Fausto, is planning to walk across Spain on the Camino de Santiago this December and is obsessed with flat whites.

Looking for a worthy cause for your year-end Donations?  Please consider donating to the Chicago Harp Quartet and know that your generosity goes towards supporting a small, arts non-profit where every dollar matters.  
 

Happy Holidays from our Family to yours!  

Spring Newsletter - March 2017

    Thank you for being a part of all that is happening with Chicago Harp Quartet! Here's what is in our latest newsletter below: 

• Cuba Fundraising Concert, March 18th, 8 pm @ Lyon & Healy - Reserve your seats now! 773-800-9247

• Cuban Dreams - About CHQ's Ambassador Trip

• Thank You to Lyon & Healy, ALG Worldwide and Bow Strings!

• Calling all harpists & technicians! We need music, strings, and more by April 24th!

• Can't make it to the concert but still want to help?

• Upcoming Performances

Cuba Harp Project
Fundraiser Concert
Lyon & Healy Hall - 168 N Ogden, Chicago IL
Saturday, March 18th, 8pm

We invite you to join us for a fundraising concert to benefit our musical ambassadorship to Cuba in May 2017!

Donation Levels

$500+ Platinum Level
     -Priority Reserved Seating
     -Exclusive champagne reception with CHQ following the concert
     -Autographed Soiree D'ete CD by the Chicago Harp Quartet
     -Exclusive preview copy of our upcoming new CD release

$300+ Silver Level
     -Priority Reserved Seating

$75+ Gold Level
     -General Admission to concert

$25+ Student Admission

All donations go directly toward our Cuba project and will be used to bring vital supplies and resources to the harp community in Cuba.

Tickets

Cuban Dreams

 CHQ's Ambassador Trip to Havana

CHQ is traveling to Cuba May 29, 2017 for a residency at the Cuban Music Institute in Havana. We will be teaching master classes, leading an educational session for youth orchestra students on creative ensembles, performing with the youth symphony, performing our own feature concert, and bringing supplies and harps to help bolster the harp education resources at the Cuban Music Institute and throughout Cuba.

What is the current state of Harp Education and Performance in Cuba?

There are very limited resources to play, practice, and learn harp in Cuba. Mirtha Batista is the only harp instructor in all of Cuba, and the number of functional harps is minimal. There are only 4 pedals harps in the whole country of Cuba, and they are in dire disrepair. We met our connection to Cuba - Anabel Gutierrez Orraca  - during our residency at Indiana University. The Cuban government is (partially) sponsoring her education at IU to aid in her ability to come back to Cuba and enrich the culture with more harp knowledge, history and educational abilities. 

Donate here

A very big thank you to Lyon & Healy Harps, ALG Worldwide and Bow Brand Strings for your generous support! 

We need your help. 
 We're asking every possible source to donate these supplies
and are asking YOU to join our cause. 

What's needed:
Financial Donations
Pedal Harps
Lever Harps
Lap Harps
Harp Carts
Harp Benches
Strings
Harp Transportation/Dust Covers
Music Stands
Beginning & Intermediate Lever and Pedal Harp Music
 Chamber Music
Orchestral Parts
 Method Books
Exercise Books
Harp Strings
Tuning Keys
Tuning Key Holders
Electronic Tuners
Pick-ups
Harp CDs
Harp Accessories
 
The Cuban music students need harps, music, and strings to help the music community thrive. The program will not be able to grow without adequate equipment and resources. Please consider making a donation to
this great cause!

All material donations please need to be received by April 24th at:
Chicago Harp Quartet
1750 N. Campbell Ave. Unit C
Chicago, IL 60622

Tax deductible monetary donations can be made through our website or mailed to the address above.
The Chicago Harp Quartet is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and
all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Can't make it to the fundraising concert but still want to contribute? 

Give to our Crowdrise Campaign!

Upcoming Performances

Cuba Fundraising Concert
Saturday, March 18, 2017, 8:00pm
Lyon & Healy Hall
168 N. Odgen, Chicago, IL
Buy Tickets Here

Northwest Suburban Community Concert Association
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 3:00pm
Forest View High School Auditorium
Arlington Heights
Buy Tickets Here

Midwest Tour Concert Schedule:

Tuesday, March 28 7:00pm
Hibbing High School Auditorium,Hibbing, MN

Thursday, March 30 1:00pm
Student Performance, Burlington, IA

Thursday, March 30 7:30pm 
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, IA

Friday, March 31 7:00pm
Indianola High School Auditorium, Indianola, IA

Sunday, April 2 4:00pm
Kenneth E. Cowan Civic Center, Lebanon, MO

Chicago Harp Ensemble Spring Concert
Sunday, May 7, 2017, 5:00pm
Lyon & Healy Hall
Chicago

Cuba Harp Project
May 29-June 4, 2017
Havana, Cuba

Winter Newsletter 2016

Our family is growing!

_______________________________________________

We're excited to kick off the season with two additions to our quartet. We've hired a new Office Manager and got exciting news about our newest member. In addition, you'll find info about upcoming performances around Chicago and elsewhere, Enjoy!

____________________________________

We were sad to say good-bye to Kelsey after last season, but it is with great excitement that we introduce to you our new 4th member, Julie! Kelsey just welcomed her second child, Michael into the world July 23. He weighed 8 pounds 9 oz and is adored by his older sister, Maria. We wish Kelsey all the best and thank her for her time and commitment to the quartet over the last couple seasons.

"After a glorious run with the wonderful and inspiring ladies of the Chicago Harp Quartet, I am sad to announce that I am resigning.  With increasing family responsibilities with two little ones and more performing opportunities in my home town of Milwaukee, I was not able to give my all to this amazing group.  But we are truly blessed to have Julie Spring joining in my place.  I have known Julie for more than 10 years and she is a tremendous talent and will be a marvelous asset to the Quartet.  I will miss this group immensely but will continue to support them and cheer them on from the sidelines!"                        - Kelsey Molinari

_____________________________________________

Julie and her little man, Dax, moved to the suburbs of Chicago this month after living and working as a harpist and educator on the East Coast for the past several years. We are so excited to have Julie joining us as a full time member this season. She subbed with the quartet during the 2014-15 season, flying into Chicago all the way from Hartford for all of our concerts and projects. Julie performed with us at the Lyon & Healy 150 year Birthday Festival, Fischoff International Chamber Competition and as soloists with the International Chamber Artists. We all developed a deep working relationship and are happy to have her living in our great city. Her extensive background as a soloist, chamber and orchestral harpist makes her the perfect addition to the quartet.

"I'm excited to be joining the Chicago Harp Quartet as a full-time member this fall. We all had a great time working together in 2014, and I have no doubt that the fun will continue! Kelsey is a fantastic harpist, and I hope that she continues to enjoy her family and her career around Milwaukee. She will be missed!

The past two years, I have been working both as public-school educator as well as principal harp of the Hartford Symphony orchestra. I have done numerous chamber music concerts around Hartford as well as Boston and really enjoyed my time in New England, though it is a great dream fulfilled to come home to Chicago. 

I have just moved with my son, Dax, to the Lombard area. We are enjoying getting unpacked and ready for school to start this fall. Biking is a passion of mine. I finished a 155 mile bike ride for diabetes this summer, as well. 

This year, in addition to working with the Quartet, I will be working with strings students in Downers Grove District 58. There are several other projects planned, including benefit concerts and more bike rides!" - Julie Spring

______________________________________________

Please also welcome to the CHQ family our new Office Manager, Jennifer Fiske! Jennifer will be taking over a large portion of roles here for the CHQ and assisting her will be Mirela as our Office Associate. We are so thankful to have these talented ladies on board to help us achieve all our musical and artistic goals. It is often overwhelming how much work goes into maintaining a chamber group and nonprofit organization in addition to performing.

Jennifer Fiske grew up in northern Illinois and graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin.  She has experience in event coordination, both artistic and corporate, as well as corporate management.

She enjoys travel, fishing, bird watching, books, winter and of course music!  As a former horn player, her favorite pieces are determined by “anything with a good horn part”, but that’s about to change!  She lives in Woodstock, Illinois, with her Cats Cassidy and Louie.

Chicago Harp Quartet 2016-17 Season Concerts

Saturday | September 10, 2016 | 7:00pm
Turner Recital Hall, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

The Nashville Chapter of the American Harp Society in partnership with Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music proudly present the Chicago Harp Quartet.  CHQ will also present a masterclass the following day, September 11th, at 2pm in the Choral Hall.

Saturday, October 8, 2016
8:00pm
Harris Theater, Chicago, IL

CHQ will be giving the World Premiere of a work by Chicago composer Carolyn O'Brien at Chicago's very own festival of New Music: Ear Taxi.  This festival combines the efforts of 300+ musicians, 86 composers, 25 ensembles, 53 World premieres, 4 sound installations and much more to celebrate Chicago's vibrant and booming contemporary classical music scene.  We are so excited to be working with Carolyn O'Brien on her composition for Harp Quartet. 

Saturday |  November 12, 2016 | 7:30pm
Northmoor Country Club, Highland Park, IL

Northmoor Country Club presents a Fall Chamber Concert and Dinner featuring the Chicago Harp Quartet.  Reservations are limited through the Country Club and include Cocktails, Concert and Dinner.

Sunday | March 26, 2017 | 3:00pm
Forest View High School Auditorium, Arlington Heights, IL

The Northwest Suburban Community Concert Associations presents the Chicago Harp Quartet.  The Northwest Suburban Community Concert Association has a 68-year history of bringing affordable, high caliber entertainment to the Northwest suburbs.  This all-volunteer non-profit organization sponsors five concerts each year featuring national and international performers.  Tickers available online here or at the door the day of the concert.

2017 Midwest Tour
Presented by Allied Concert Services
From March 27 through April 2, the Chicago Harp Quartet will be embarking on our first Midwest tour. Please help spread the news!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017 - Hibbing, MN
Thursday, March 30, 2017 - Burlington, IA
Friday, March 31, 2017 - Indianola, IA
Sunday, April 2, 2017 - Lebanon, MO

Upcoming Member Performances
Each member of the quartet maintains a busy performing schedule in addition to performing with the quartet. Please join us at an upcoming performance in the Greater Chicago Area. 

September 9 Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavillion,7:30pm (Lynn)

September 18 Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, Legendary Lovers, Pick-Staiger Hall, Northwestern, 3pm (Lynn, Catherine)

September 25 Rembrandt Chamber Players, European Mosaic, Nichols Concert Hall, 3pm (Lynn)

September 26 Rembrandt Chamber Players, European Mosaic, Driehaus Museum, 7:30pm (Lynn)

October 1  Lyric Opera of Chicago, Das Rheingold, Civic Opera House, 6pm (Lynn, Catherine, Emily)

October 5 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Das Rheingold, Civic Opera House,7:30pm (Lynn, Catherine, Emily)

October 9 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Das Rheingold, Civic Opera House, 2pm(Lynn, Catherine, Emily)

October 13 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Das Rheingold, Civic Opera House,7:30pm (Lynn, Catherine, Emily)

October 15 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lucia di Lammermoor, Civic Opera House, 7:30pm (Lynn)

October 16 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Das Rheingold, Civic Opera House, 3pm (Lynn, Catherine, Emily)

October 19 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lucia di Lammermoor, Civic Opera House, 7:30pm (Lynn)

October 20 University of Chicago's Tea Time Concerts, Harp Chamber Music Recital 4:30 pm (Catherine)

October 22 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Das Rheingold, Civic Opera House, 7:30pm (Lynn, Catherine, Emily)

October 23 Music of the Baroque, Handel Harp Concerto, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30pm (Lynn)

October 24 Music of the Baroque, Handel Harp Concerto, Harris Theater,7:30pm (Lynn)

October 26 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lucia di Lammermoor, Civic Opera House, 7:30pm (Lynn)

October 29 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lucia di Lammermoor, Civic Opera House, 7:30pm (Lynn)

November 1 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lucia di Lammermoor, Civic Opera House, 7:30pm (Lynn)

November 7 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lucia di Lammermoor, Civic Opera House, 2pm (Lynn)

November 12 Lyric Chamber Players, St. James Cathedral, 2pm (Lynn)

November 13 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Les Troyens, Civic Opera House,1pm (Lynn, Emily)

November 17 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Les Troyens, Civic Opera House,1pm (Lynn, Emily)

November 19 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Quichotte, Civic Opera House,7:30pm (Lynn, Catherine)

November 21 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Les Troyens, Civic Opera House,5:30pm (Lynn, Emily)

November 23 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Quichotte, Civic Opera House,2pm (Lynn, Catherine)

November 26 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Les Troyens, Civic Opera House,5:30pm (Lynn, Emily)

November 28 Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Quichotte, Civic Opera House,7:30pm (Lynn, Catherine)

Our Mission:
The Chicago harp Quartet strives to present the highest quality performance of chamber music in both traditional and non-traditional venues, to be ambassadors for the harp, role models for young harpists, and trail blazers for new and unique ensembles.

Members:
Marguerite Lynn Williams
Catherine Litaker
Emily Ann Granger
Julie Spring

CHQ Board of Directors:
Danielle Karpinos, President
Elizabeth Cifani, Vice President
Catherine Litaker, Member
Marguerite Lynn Williams, Member

Staff:
Jennifer Fiske, Office Manager
Mirela Shendrya, Office Assistant

If you, or anyone you know would like to get involved we would love to hear from you. Please be in touch!

_______________________________________________________

Fall ~ 2016

Long Awaited Spring is Here!

The weather is warming and the city is awakening to a whole new season of music making. Our quiet months are running out of days and in less than a month we'll be back in full swing playing 4 harps, 28 pedals and 188 strings! The month of April will be packed with concerts and something to speak to every music lover, whether it’s a noonday concert in the heart of the city or an enchanted evening in an art exhibit enveloped in the golden sounds of the harp. We hope to see you at one or more of our upcoming concerts, or visit us on our Facebook page for updates and exciting news!

Join us for our upcoming concerts!

CHQ will be performing works by:

Saint-Saens|Patterson|Ortiz|Andres

Ganz|Khachaturian|Delibes| Liszt

If you are unable to attend our upcoming concerts but would still like to show your support for the Chicago Harp Quartet, please consider making a tax deductible donation today!

Welcome on Board | Danielle Braff

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newly elected board president, Danielle Braff. A freelance writer and editor who covers everything from travel to parenting to business and the arts. Her deep interest in the fine arts and support of female organizations make her the perfect candidate for the position and we are very fortunate to have her.

"I've been a fan of the Chicago Harp Quartet since the first time I saw them perform. Their breadth of repertoire, from traditional harp music to pieces transposed for the quartet, to music that Lynn composed specifically for the Chicago Harp Quartet - makes every concert super exciting. What's also evident is the connection that each woman has with each other, which is so rare, and which makes this quartet work so well. "

-Danielle Braff

Spotlight On | London Harp Quartet

We'd like to take a few moments and introduce you to our associates across the Atlantic, the London Harp Quartet. Founded in 2015 by alumnae from the Royal Academy of Music under the artistic direction of Skaila Kanga.

"Our debut season opened to packed enthusiastic audiences in some of London's most prestigious venues including St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square. The theme was 'Dance' and Richard Bissill's Three Dance Sketches received its world premiere alongside works by Bruce Broughton and Paul Patterson and arrangements kindly shared with us by our associates the Chicago Harp Quartet. For next season we have commissioned a new work by Christopher Gunning and are planning performances at major festivals across the UK. Judging from the reaction to the group this year we are all hopeful that this will be a real success story. We thank the CHQ and all our supporters for their help and encouragement in our new venture."

-Skaila Kanga

CHE |Raising a generation of well-equipped harpists:

A participant since 2011 and returning student of the Chicago Harp Ensemble, 13-year-old Zoe O'Shaughnessy shares some thoughts about her time at CHE.

Trailblazing | Emily Granger

Emily was invited by Australia's leading recorder player, Alicia Crossley, to perform a month long tour consisting of concerts in Sydney, Canberra and Bellingen.  The recorder and harp duo, Duality, performed concerts, gave school presentations and was featured in an interview on Fine Music Radio.  The duo commissioned new works by Australian composers Mark Oliverio, Andrew Batt-Rawden and Tristan Coelho. The final performance was given at the Sydney Opera House. Read the stellar review here.  

Emily then traveled to New Zealand to walk the world's newest long distance trail, Te Araroa.  This trail  is over 3,000 km long from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island covering long and traverses high mountain tops, volcanoes, river valleys, farmland, and everything imaginable in-between.  Emily's through "tramp" as they call it in NZ, took 138 days. 

"The biggest misconception about the Te Araroa is that being in New Zealand, known for its “Great Walks,” this must be easy tramping.  That’s wishful thinking. The TA mostly takes the rugged path, overlapping with just two of the nine Great Walks. The best way to describe the trail quality is “mixed”: one minute you’re slogging up and down near-vertical muddy slopes with the biggest tree roots you’ve ever seen, and the next you’re channeling your inner mountain goat on a six-inch-wide trackless scree path, nothing below but imminent death."

Upcoming CHQ member performances: 

March 16, 19 - Lyric Opera of Chicago, Gounod's Romeo & Juliet (Lynn & Catherine)
March 19 & 20 - Milwaukee Symphony - William Walton's Henry V (Kelsey)
March 26 - Lyric Opera of Chicago, Rising Stars in Concert (Lynn)
April 3 - Museum of Contemporary Art Presents Mozawa's COVERS (Lynn)
April 3 - Milwaukee Muzaik - Debussy Trio and Caplet Conte Fantastique (Kelsey)
April 11- Chicago Cultural Center Chamber Mondays (Lynn)
April 17- Roosevelt University Faculty Concert- Marguerite Lynn Williams, Head of Harp Department, featuring Marie Tachouet, Flute and the Chicago Harp Quartet
April 29-May 29 ~  34 Performances of The King & I at Civic Opera House (Lynn)
May 13 &15 - Florentine Opera - Die Fledermaus (Kelsey)
May 15 - Chicago Harp Ensemble Spring Concert at Roosevelt University (Lynn & Catherine)
May 22 - Wisconsin Philharmonic Kid's Concert (Kelsey)
May 28- Cirque de la Symphonie, Chicago Philharmonic, Harris Theater (Lynn)
June 5 - International Chamber Artists~ Works by Bach and Liebermann for Flute & Harp (Lynn)
June 17-19 Milwaukee Symphony - Ravel Piano Concerto in G, Copland Appalachian Spring Suite, Bernstein West Side Story Symphonic Dances (Kelsey)

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Spring 2016

CHQ in a Winter Wonderland!

Last week, on November 18, the Quartet celebrated our 3 year anniversary, a realization that even took us by surprise! We are excited to have covered so much ground and to have developed the concept of the Quartet into a non profit organization over this time period. We cannot thank our donors and supporters enough for their continued dedication and support, which are the wings that empower our vision for the harp and classical music to take flight. We are passionate about what we do; educating, bringing the highest quality of chamber music to Chicago and across the United States, and expanding the harp quartet repertoire.  One of the ways you can partner with us in this mission is through a tax deductible donation of any amount. Donate today!

We cordially invite you to join us

at Lyon & Healy Hall on December 6, 2015 at 5:00pm, where the Chicago Harp Ensemble will be presenting their Winter concert including classical favorites and Holiday selections. The concert is free and no tickets are required. Come to enjoy the music, and show your support to a growing generation of harpists and musicians!

The Perfect Gift!

Looking for that perfect gift or stocking stuffer?
What if this year you give the gift of music while supporting your one and only favorite harp quartet?

Order the CHQ CD today!
(Tshirts and Tote bags also available)

Member Spotlight|Marguerite Lynn Williams

Upcoming CHQ member performances
 

December 3, 9, 11, 13 - Merry Widow at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lynn)

December 4 - Holiday Pops concert with the Racine Symphony (Kelsey)

December 6 - Villa Terrace solo recital (Kelsey)

December 6 - Chicago Harp Ensemble Winter Concert at Lyon & Healy Hall, 5:00pm (Catherine & Lynn)

December 7, 10, 12, January 5, 8, 13, 17 - Bel Canto (World Premiere) at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lynn)

December 8 - Holiday Pops concert with the Wisconsin Philharmonic (Kelsey)

December 19 & 20 - Amahl and the night visitors with Chamber Opera Chicago (Catherine)

December 27- Salute to Vienna at Orchestra Hall (Lynn)

January 9 - Plácido Domingo & Ana María Martínez with the Lyric Opera Orchestra (Lynn)

January 22 and 23rd - Milwaukee Symphony (Firebird Suite) (Kelsey)

January 23, 27, 31, February 3, 6, 9, 12 - Nabucco at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lynn)

February 5 and 6 - Milwaukee Symphony (Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2) (Kelsey)

February 8, 13, 16, 20 - Der Rosenkavalier at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lynn)

February 22, 25, 28 - Romeo & Juliet at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lynn & Catherine)

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Winter 2015

Fall into the 2015-16 Season...
 

We are very excited to invite you to CHQ’S first Annual Fundraiser! This will be an exquisite evening including wine, hors d'oeuvres, and most importantly a preview of our new concert repertoire for the 2015-16 season.  It will be an evening where music lovers can mingle, experience a live performance, hear about our upcoming projects and help support us for the future. The event will take place on Saturday, September 12th, 5-7pm at Vintage Studios in Chicago. RSVP by September 4th to chicagoharpquartet@gmail.com to reserve your spot. For more details, please visit us on Facebook or www.chicagoharpquartet.com  If you are outside of the Chicago area, you can still support the Chicago Harp Quartet by donating through our website.  The Chicago Harp Quartet is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and donations are tax deductible

It is with your support that we can continue to commission new works, accomplish our educational goals training young artists, and passionately pursue collaborative projects with other art forms like our recent project with Mozawa.  Please consider donating to the Chicago Harp Quartet to help fund our many projects, we are grateful for your support.

2015-16 Season Overview

 CHQ is delighted to be starting the 2015-16 season with an opening concert taking place at Indiana University, presented by the USA International Harp Competition on Friday, September 4th.  It is an honor to be presented by such an important organization for harpists around the world.  The USA International Harp Competition is first and foremost a world-class international harp competition held at Indiana University every three years since its founding in 1989.  Their goals include promoting and fostering the careers of gifted young harpists from throughout the world, promoting the harp as a concert and solo instrument, introducing the harp repertoire to a broader public, encouraging composers to write new works for the harp, and to fostering friendship and understanding among harpists worldwide.  It is an incredible opportunity to work with an organization which shares common core goals with the mission of the Chicago Harp Quartet.

Our September 4th performance is part of an educational residency taking place at Indiana University where we will present a workshop for the harp class, do a presentation for Project Jumpstart on starting a unique chamber ensemble from scratch, and perform in public schools as part of the Harp Start Project. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our music and passion with the IU and Bloomington community!

September will be a busy month for us as we participate in the educational residency at Indiana University September 2nd through the 5th,  followed by the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert at the Chicago Cultural Center September 9th. You can listen live to this concert online anywhere in the world at www.wfmt.com at 12:00pm CST. A few days later we hope to see you at our 2015-16 Season Fundraiser on September 12th! If you cannot make it to see us at our Fundraiser, join us September 13 at the Norton Building Concert Series in Lockport, Illinois.

After our whirlwind of concerts in September, Emily will be headed to Australia for a concert tour titled “Duality” with Alicia Crossley, Australia’s leading recorder player. The highlight of the tour will be Emily’s Sydney Opera House debut, and conclude with an attempt to backpack 3,000 km across New Zealand via the Te Araroa trail. Meanwhile, the rest of the Quartet will be busy with the beginnings of symphonic and opera seasons, starting out the academic year teaching, and coaching the Chicago Harp Ensemble. This season is the 6th for the Chicago Harp Ensemble, and with Lynn’s appointment as Head of the Harp Department at Roosevelt University, we will be moving our permanent home to Roosevelt!  Registration is now open through September 7, 2015, and the first rehearsal is on September 19.

Member Spotlight:Catherine Litaker

Upcoming CHQ member performances: 

Sept 19 - Bellingen Music Festival, Bellingen Memorial Hall, 35 Hyde Street, Bellingen New South Wales Australia (Emily)

Sept 23 - St James' Lunchtime Concert, St James' Church, 173 King Street, Sydney 2000 (Emily)

Sept 25, 26 - Milwaukee Symphony (Kelsey)

Oct  3 - The Legend of Zelda - Symphony of the Goddesses (Kelsey)

Oct 3 -"Duality", Wesley Music Centre,, 20 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603,   (Emily)

Oct  9 - "Duality", Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney (Emily)

Oct 25: Groupmuse performance with Duo Pacifico (Catherine)

Nov 1, 4, 7, 12, 16, 21 - Lyric Opera of Chicago, Wozzeck (Lynn)

Nov 6, 8 - Chicago Master Singers at Techny (Lynn)

Nov 13, 14 - Milwaukee Symphony (Kelsey)

Nov 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 28, Dec 3, 9, 11, 13 - Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Merry Widow (Lynn)

Nov 22 - Marguerite Lynn Williams Studio Recital at Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University

Dec  4 - Racine Symphony - Holiday Pops (Kelsey)

Dec 6 - Chicago Harp Ensemble Winter Concert, Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University (Lynn & Catherine)

Dec 7, 10, 12 - Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bel Canto, World Premiere (Lynn)

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Fall 2015

Summer is finally here... 
...and we've got so much to tell you!

With the weather getting warmer and strings breaking every week, we couldn't be more excited about what we have coming up.  Our concert on May 31, 2015 at the City Winerymarks our first ever Summer Concert Season with multiple performances in the Chicago and Washington, DC areas.

In just a couple short weeks all four of us will be flying to Washington, DC for our debut performance at the Kennedy Center. We will perform on the Millenium Stage, presented by the YoungArts Foundation of which Lynn is an alumni from 1997!  Next we will return to Chicago for concerts at the 2015 Lyon & Healy Summer Concert Series, Chicago Botanic Garden and an incredible collaboration performance project with Mozawa from July 30 to August 2nd.  

We are now officially a Nonprofit Organization! 
While we always have multiple ongoing projects, we are starting a fundraising effort to help produce our exciting project with Mozawa.  Read more about this project below, and to donate, please click here.

Y Portraits:  Awakening

This July, the Chicago Harp Quartet will be joining Mozawa and Ho Etsu Taiko for a brand new, interdisciplinary performance project.  We are currently fundraising for these exciting performances and need your support! Every little bit helps!  To donate, please click HERE. 

What is Y Portraits:  Awakening?

The Millennials have been called “The Peter Pan Generation” due to their apparent unwillingness to grow up, “Generation Me” for their obsession with social media, and “Generation Y” merely because they follow “Generation X”. But do these labels capture the intelligence, passion, and variety of an entire generation? In Y Portraits, a collection of international Millennial artists will each develop a self-portrait in their chosen medium, including live dramatic and musical performance, visual art, sound, and film. Through this interdisciplinary artistic exploration, Mozawa presents a new vision of the “Y Generation.

-Matthew Ozawa, Founder & Artistic Director, Mozawa

The performances will include a curated experience in which audience members will move through a large performance and art space to experience numerous types of art and artists both performing individually and interacting with each other.  The Chicago Harp Quartet began this project last June in a workshop with Ho Etsu Taiko and Mozawa in which we worked together for the first time.  The workshop produced a thrilling performance including collaborations in every possible combination for the three performance groups.  Our favorite experience was adding Taiko drumming to Lynn's composition Musings.  Now every time we perform it without the Taiko drums, we miss them! 

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this very exciting performance venture, but cannot do it without financial support from our fans and donors.  Please consider giving a donation in any amount to the Chicago Harp Quartet to help make this opportunity possible. 

Member Spotlight:Emily Ann Granger 

Tell us a little about what you’ve been up to outside of the harp?
I recently got into weightlifting, boxing and running.  I absolutely love boxing! Something about being free to use all your force to hit something as hard as you can is extremely liberating to me, maybe I should have been a percussionist... I’ve found that exercising has directly impacted my harp life in a huge way. I had been suffering from tendentious for almost 15 years. I spent years in physical therapy, while also seeing an acupuncturist and massage therapist. After I got past the worst of it (around junior year of undergrad) I survived on monthly trips to the massage therapist. Since starting a regular exercise routineI’ve had the least amount of pain from playing the harp and even stopped having to see a massage therapist!  
I also recently started a new blog for the Harp Column Magazine.  Check it out!  

What has been your favorite CHQ performance so far?
There have been so many amazing performances it’s hard to pick just one! One of my favorites was our performance at the Lyon & Healy 150th Birthday Festival. We had some really important harpists in the audience that heard us live for the first time including my undergraduate professor, Susann McDonald. What a joy it was to look into the audience and see her there!

What is your go-to post performance beverage?
Tito’s vodka & soda with a lemon AND lime

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Summer 2015

Chicago Harp Quartet's Spring News 

Spring is here!

And we can't wait to tell you what we have been working on...

First up on the list is our first ever East Coast Tour.  We are off to Philadelphia on March 22 for an educational residency with Play on Philly! including several school visits and a performance with POP Harpists and Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Curtis Institute of Music.   On March 26th, we head out to New York City for a jam packed weekend of events including our debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall! Lynn will give a Master Class for the Metro Harp Chapter of the American Harp Society, the Quartet will have another educational residency, this one at NYU, and finally a concert with Duo Scorpio at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music on March 28th.  Find out more details of all the events, and get your tickets for the DiMenna Concert through our website.

As soon as we return, the Chicago Harp Ensemble will hold its Spring Concert on Saturday, April 11th at St. Gregory the Great Church in Andersonville.  The students have done a phenomenal job this semester preparing for this event.  The concert is free and no tickets are required.  We hope to see you there!  

CHQ is very excited to announce our first summer season including concerts in Chicago at City Winery(5/31), Lyon and Healy Hall(7/10), the Chicago Botanic Gardens(7/28), and a week long run of Y Portraits:  Awakening(7/30-8/2).  Y Portraits:  Awakening is an interdisciplinary art gallery experience collaborative project with Chicago based theater company Mozawa.  In addition to these concerts, we are very proud to be making our Kennedy Center debut on June 21st at 6pm, presented by the YoungArts Foundation!

In other business news, we are now officially a 501(c)3 non-profit organization!  We are working hard to establish our Board of Directors as well as organize for fundraising.  Our first ever Season Preview & Fall Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, September 12th.  Save the Date!
 

After moving through the snow all winter, we sure are glad Spring is here!  

Upcoming CHQ Performances

Musician's Club of Women
March 16th, 11AM

Concert at the Curtis Institute of Music  
March 24, 7:30pm

Festival Chamber Music
(debut at Carnegie Hall & World Premiere of Ortiz Quartet)
March 26, 8pm

Lecture Performance at NYU
March 28, 3pm

Duo Scorpio & Chicago Harp Quaret at the DiMenna Center
March 28, 7:30pm

Chicago Harp Ensemble Spring Concert
April 11, 2pm
 

Member Spotlight: Kelsey Molinari

Raised in Thiensville, WI, Kelsey Molinari began studying harp at age 11 and quickly became one of America's most in-demand harpists.  She has performed around the World with top Orchestras including several tours with both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  She is on faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and performs regularly as second harpist at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  Kelsey resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband TJ and beautiful 1 year old daughter, Maria.  In her free time, she enjoys cooking, golfing with her husband TJ, and spending time with her extended family.  

Upcoming CHQ Member Performances:

March 14 Lyric Opera of Chicago final performance: Tosca, 7:30pm (Lynn & Cathy)
March 15 Lyric Opera of Chicago final performance: The Passenger 2:00pm (Lynn)
March 21 Lyric Opera of Chicago Rising Stars in Concert 7:30pm (Lynn)
April 8-May 3 Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents: Carousel 25 performances (Lynn)
April 18 Chicago Philharmonic Concert 7:00pm (Lynn & Emily)
May 17 Ars Viva Symphony Concert 3:00pm (Lynn)
May 31 International Chamber Artists Performance 7:00pm (Lynn)
June 7 International Chamber Artists Performance 7:00pm (Lynn)
June 22-23 National Orchestra Institute Coaching (Lynn)

______________________________________

Spring 2015

Happy Holidays!

December 23, 2014

Dear Chicago Harp Quartet Fans and Supporters, 

As we get ready to end the 2014 year, we are bounding with excitement for what 2015 has in store for us!  As you may know, we have many concerts in the Chicago area during January and February that are open to the public.  In March we are off on our East Coast tour through Philadelphia and New York City. In Philly we will taking part in a educational residency with the Play on Philly! organization as well as presenting a concert at the Curtis Institute of Music.  While in New York we will not only be performing our debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall, but also holding a master class at New York University and performing with Duo Scorpio! (6 harps on one stage!)

We are extremely excited to announce that we will be performing at the Kennedy Center in June 2015 presented by the National YoungArts Foundation!  This will be our Debut at the Kennedy Center and we are so honored to be supported by such an amazing organization.   

For a complete list of our 2015 concert season please visit our website:www.chicagoharpquartet.com or see the list below.  

Special Invitation for our Newsletter Subscribers

The Chicago Harp Quartet would like to invite you to a very special concert experience on Monday, January 12th at the WFMT Radio Studios.  We will be performing a LIVE from WFMT radio broadcast concert from 8-10pm and would like to invite you to attend the broadcast in the Studio!  Seating is limited, so be sure to RSVP no later than January 8, 2015 to Emily at chicagoharpquartet@gmail.com to confirm your seat.  This event is not open to the public and you must RSVP in order to attend.

Don't know what to get your loved one for Christmas?  How about a lovely Chicago Harp Quartet CD!  

They will be humming our tunes long into the new year.  

CDs are available through iTunes, CDBaby or our website.

Chicago Harp Quartet, 2014 - 2015 Concert Season
 
St. James Chapel Second Saturday Concert Series 

• Saturday, January 10, 2015, 2pm

• St. James Chapel at The Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush St, Chicago

• Free and open to the public.

• For more info click here.

Fermilab Gallery Chamber Series

• Sunday, January 11, 2015, 2:30pm

• Fermilab 2nd floor Art Gallery, Kirk Road & Pine Street, Batavia, IL 60510

• Tickets and info click here.

LIVE from WFMT Radio concert
Monday, January 12, 2015, 8:00pm
98.7FM in Chicago or www.wfmt.com on the internet anywhere in the world

McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park
Sunday, February 15. 2015, 3:00pm
McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189

Musicians Club of Women

• Monday, March 16, 2015, 11:00am

• Union League Club, 65 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604

• Members only concert and luncheon.

CHQ at the Curtis Institute of Music
Tuesday, March 24, 2015, 7:00pm
More information coming soon!

Debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall

• Thursday, March 26, 2015, 8:00pm

• Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019

• More information and tickets click here.

Duo Scorpio & Chicago Harp Quartet at Galapagos Art Space
Friday, March 27, 2015, 7:00pm
Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
Ticket information coming soon!

Chicago Philharmonic Players presents Chicago Harp Quartet at City Winery
Sunday, May 31, 2015, 12:00pm
City Winery, 1200 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
More information and tickets click here.

Debut at the Kennedy Center presented by the National YoungArts Foundation
June 2015
Date TBD

Summer 2015 Lyon & Healy Concert Series
Friday, July 10, 2015, 2:00pm
Lyon & Healy Hall, 168 N. Ogden, Chicago, IL
More information coming soon!

Tuesday Morning Music Series
Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 10:00am
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
Free and open to the public.

Other performances by Quartet members:

• January 7-16, Donizetti's Anna Bolena, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lynn

• January 17, The Magic Victrola, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Emily

• January 18, Chicago Harp Quartet Student recital, St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, Students of Lynn, Emily and Catherine

• January 24-March 14, Puccini's Tosca, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lynn & Catherine

• February 9-March 6, Wagner's Tannhauser, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lynn & Kelsey

• February 24-March 15, Weinberg's The Passenger, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lynn

• March 1, Music in Exile, Lyric Opera Chamber Players, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Lynn

• March 21, Rising Stars in Concert, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lynn

Thank you for all your support and love.  Please continue to share our music andHappy New Year!!  


Sincerely, 

Lynn, Kelsey, Cathy and Emily

October 7, 2014

FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER

Dear Chicago Harp Quartet fans and admirers, 

Welcome to our first ever newsletter!
We hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer, we surely have! Rehearsals have started again and we are getting excited to announce our 2014-15 Concert Season.  The most up to date list is below, but we'll be sure to update you as more performances are announced.

Exciting Updates:
We would like to formally welcome our newest member to her first official season with Chicago Harp Quartet, Kelsey Molinari!  Kelsey has an extensive performing background and we are absolutely thrilled to have her as our new member.  You can read her bio on the Quartet's website.  

We are proud to announce that we will be making our New York City Debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall on March 26, 2015!  While in New York, we will also be performing with the outstanding Duo Scorpio, visiting the Harp Department at New York University and working with the Metro Harp Chapter of the American Harp Society.  In addition to our visit to NYC, we are working to present several events in Philadelphia being coordinated by Play on Philly! including a performance at the Curtis Institute of Music.

If you were able to attend our collaboration last season with Mozawa and Ho Etsu Taiko, then you will be excited to hear that we are currently working on another project for Summer 2015!

In case you don't already have a copy, don't forget that our CD, Soirées d'été, is available on iTunes and CDBaby.  

Chicago Harp Quartet, 2014 - 2015 Concert Season 

Private Salon Concert

• Sunday, November 2, 2014, 3:00pm

• Downtown Chicago

Diane and Simon Zunamon Memorial Fine Arts Music Series 

• Tuesday, November 11, 2014, 7:30pm

• Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation, 7117 N. Crawford Ave Lincolnwood, IL 60712

• For info and tickets click here.

Skokie Public LIbrary 

• Sunday, November 16, 2014, 3pm

• Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St Skokie, IL, 60077

• Free and open to the public.

• For more info click here.

Festival of Trees and Music 

• Sunday, November 23, 2014, 3pm

• McIntosh|Goodrich Mansion, 1584 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

• Admission is free. Suggested $10 donation for adults and $5 for children.

St. James Chapel Second Saturday Concert Series 

• Saturday, January 10, 2015, 2pm

• St. James Chapel at The Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush St, Chicago

• Free and open to the public.

• For more info click here.

Fermilab Chamber Concert Series 

• Sunday, January 11, 2015, 2:30pm

• Fermilab 2nd floor Art Gallery, Kirk Road & Pine Street, Batavia, IL 60510

• Tickets and info click here.

LIVE from WFMT Radio concert

• Monday, January 12, 2015, 8:00pm

• 98.7FM in Chicago or www.wfmt.com on the internet anywhere in the world

Musicians Club of Women 

• Monday, March 16, 2015, 11:00am

• Union League Club, 65 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604

• Members only concert and luncheon.

CHQ at the Curtis Institute of Music

• Tuesday, March 24, 2015, 7:00pm

• More information coming soon!

Debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall 

• Thursday, March 26, 2015, 8:00pm

• Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019

• More information and ticket click here.

Duo Scorpio & Chicago Harp Quartet at Galapagos Art Space

• Friday, March 27, 2015, 7:00pm

• Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, NY

• Ticket information coming soon!

Summer 2015 Lyon & Healy Concert Series

• Friday, July 10, 2015, 2:00pm

• Lyon & Healy Hall, 168 N. Ogden, Chicago, IL

• More information coming soon!

Tuesday Morning Music Series

• Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 10:00am

• Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022

• Free and open to the public.

Did you know...

As part of our educational goals, the Chicago Harp Quartet directs and manages the Chicago Harp Ensemble.  The ensemble is made up of some of the best young harp students in the area from many different private harp studios.  The students work together to learn important ensemble skills which harpists do not usually have much exposure to at a young age.  Along with learning important skills, the students also have a great time creating friendships and a harp community for the City.

The Chicago Harp Ensemble, will have its winter concert on Thursday, December 4th, 2014 at 7:30pm.  The concert will take place at Lyon and Healy Hall, located at 168 N Ogden ave, Chicago IL 60607.  This concert is free and open to the public, so please come support our young student harpists! 

Other performances by Quartet members:  

• Sunday, October 5, 2:00pm, Solo harp recital presented by Clay Center Arts Council, Kansas City, MO, Emily

• October 6 - 28, Strauss' Capriccio, Lyric Opera of Chicago starring Renee Fleming, Lynn & Catherine

• Tuesday, October 7, 10:00am, Solo harp Recital at The University of Kansas, Emily

• Friday, October 10-12, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra plays Brahms Requiem, Kelsey

• Saturday, October 11, DuPage Symphony Orchestra, The Cradle of Civilization concert,Catherine

• Sunday, October 12, 2:00pm Northland Symphony Orchestra performs Debussy's Danses Sacree et Profane and Saint-Saens' Morceau de Concert Op. 154, Solo harpist, Emily

• Saturday, October 18, 7:30pm Heritage Philharmonic performs Debussy's Danses Sacree et Profane and Saint-Saens' Morceau de Concert Op. 154, Solo Harpist, Emily

• October 21, The Women's Choir at Carroll College does Brahm's four songs, Kelsey

• October 27 - Nov 29, Verdi's Il Trovatore, Lyric Opera of Chicago Kelsey

• Saturday, November 1, 6:30pm 60th Anniversary Concert, Lyric Opera of Chicago Lynn & Kelsey

• Wednesday, November 19, 6:00pm Sounds of the South Loop Concerts, Solo recital byCatherine

• December 6-January 16, Donizetti's Anna Bolena, Lyric Opera of Chicago Lynn

• December 12 & 14 Chicago Master Singers & Ars Viva Symphony Lynn

• Saturday, December 13, Fonema Consort presents Ancient Rites at the Constellation Theater, Catherine

• Saturday, December 13, Holiday Pops Chicago at St. Michaels, Lynn

Thank you and we hope to see you soon!  

Sincerely, 

Lynn, Kelsey, Cathy & Emily