12/25/2025
Merry Christmas, everyone!
This is a tribute to my grandfather, who, 25 years ago, helped launch my journey of learning to play the harp.
Growing up I always loved everything music and performing arts and dance and theater. I knew that I wanted to play an instrument so I started on the piano because I always loved the sound, but I hated practicing.
When I was nine, my family and I went to an Amy Grant concert. We sat right over the orchestra and, as it happens, right over the harpist. It was love at first sight.
That Christmas my grandfather bought me my first harp: a little shepherd’s lap harp. He said to me, “Alright, learn how to play.” And that did it. My mother and I began learning as much as we could, and I slowly learned how to play.
As I got older, I started playing at my church and for local community events in my town. In high school I performed with my concert band and then in college I played in the orchestra, as well as studying under Julia Ann Scott.
After college, I started pursuing my goals of dance and musical theater and performing so my harp took a backseat. I still played for the occasional event, but I ended up performing as a costume character dancer at Sesame Place theme park for almost 2 years and then went on tour with Sesame Street LIVE. After returning from being on tour, I worked as a dance, theater, and acrobatics teacher/choreographer for several studios and productions.
Fall of 2020, my husband and I moved from NJ to Ohio, and it was then that my harp really took off. Just when I thought I was closing a door, God opened another one.
This Christmas marks 25 years since that fateful day when I received my first harp. I am forever grateful to my grandpa and I miss him terribly. I love you, grandpa, and thank you for the gift that you have given me 💗💗💗