September 10, 2005: Ligonier Games
Report by Dreama Powell, chair
Jo Morrison, judge
NOVICE
Carly Traina of Minerva Oh 1st (youth) and winner of $50 gift
from the Virginia Harp Center.
Jamie Lyon of Germantown Md (open) first time competing
2nd place
Lorraine Fornof of Pittsburgh Pa (open) also first time
competiting came in 3rd.
APPRENTICE
Sairey Miller of Lisbon Oh (youth) - 1st place
Hanna Brady of Cuyahoga Falls Oh (open) - 2nd place
Laura Wahba of Gaithersburg Md (open) - 3rd place
JOURNEYMAN
Allison Miller of Lisbon Oh (open) 1st place and winner of the
St Andrew's Society of Pittsburgh's Harpist of the Day
ENSEMBLE
Allison, Sairey and Laura Miller
Laura on fiddle- 1st place
Faith Stenning and Linda Poecbel (harp and singer)
The local Grove Harpers Folk Harp Chapter established a special award plaque and scholarship in Faith Stenning's name to honor her years of dedicated service to the Harp event at the Ligonier Highland Games. Faith awarded this prize for the first recipient who was Diane Bartels of Pittsburgh. Diane is a member of the Grove Harpers Folk Harp Chapter (which are the workers as well as participants in this workshop and competition.) Grove Harpers President is Barra Jacob-McDowell. Dreama says, "as chairperson I am treated with graciousness by the Ligonier staff, who are very hospitable."
June 2005: Ohio Scottish Games
Sharon Knowles, Judge
Sue Richards, Steward
Rank beginner
1st Carly Ann Traina -OH. Also won
the Most Promising Beginner silver platter and trophy to keep.
Novice
1st Sophie Dickinson- MA
2nd Kori Kinard-OH
3rd Keith Rowley-UT
Apprentice
1st Sairey Miller-OH
2nd Kaylaya Crutcher-OH
3rd Hanna Brady-OH. Also winner of the Harper of the Day.
3rd (tie)-Kellen Lowrie-OH
Journeyman
1st Allison Miller-OH
2nd Abbie Palmer-MD
3rd Haley Hewitt-MA
4th Beth Richard-TX
Master
1st Cynthia Shelhart-IN
Vocal
1st Keith Rowley -UT. Also won the
Dreama Powell Bardic Silver Cup.
2nd Carla Holder-NY
Ensemble
1st Abbie Palmer-MD
2nd Kaylaya Crutcher-OH
Submitted by chairperson for harps, Dreama Powell
June 2005: Texas Games
Cynthia Shelhart, Judge
Jean Peacock, Coordinator
Youth Beginner
First Place, Joiey Gaston. Joiey also won Most Promising Harper.
Second Place, Sarah Hales
Third Place, Erica Tupin
Adult Beginner
First Place, Renee Johnson
Second Place, Tenesa Rasmussen
Third Place, Weldon Patterson
Youth Novice
First Place, Lauren Baggerman
Adult Novice
First Place, Garry Barnes. Garry also won Harper of the Day.
Second Place, Carla Wethington
Adult Journeyman
First Place, Beth Richard
Ensemble
First Place, Garry Barnes and Carla
Wethington
Second Place, Tenesa Rasmussen and Rebekah Passmore
Non-graded
Rebekah Passmore
May 15, 2005: Houston
Therese Honey, Judge
Rank Beginner
Dustin Koonce - 1st Place
Youth Solo Apprentice
Maribeth Carstens - First Place
Melissa Berger - Second Place
Youth Solo Novice
Molly Cook - 1st Place
Open Journeyman
Evelyn Castiglioni - First Place
Karen McGarrett - Second Place
Singing
Evelyn Castiglioni - 1st Place, self accompanied on harp
Ensemble
Joe Castiglioni - 1st Place, harp and clarinet
Mary Radspinner and Evelyn Castiglioni also played a non-graded ensemble. The Harp Circle afterward was great fun!
February 2005: Florida
This year's indoor Harp Pavilion at the 10th annual Northeast Florida Highland Games was a tremendous success. Seventeen harpers battled wind, rain, and chilly weather to attend harp circles, a workshop and concert given by Nancy Bick Clark, and our annual Scottish Harp Competition. Our ambitious schedule also included a beginning bodhran workshop (taught by Mr. Frank Clark) as well as a jam session to top off the day. As if all of this activity were not exciting enough, David Dirlam of the Savannah Folk Traditions Store was present with harps, sheet music, cd's, and valuable harp resource materials for us to savor and peruse throughout the day!
A few words to the wise: never plan your competition at the same time as the main stage act! It is very difficult to maintain concentration when windows and walls are shaking from the celtic rock band playing just outside your door. Fortunately our helpful volunteers kept the doors closed during each competitor's piece and for this we are truly grateful! Another pitfall to avoid is not anticipating the various levels of harpers that may arrive without warning. This year we had a record number of rank beginners who, while they may have enjoyed our many offerings, may have benefited from just a little extra attention. Next year, we'll plan to have just that!
The Northeast Florida Highland Games are proud to support the tradition of learning, playing, and sharing Scottish tunes on the harp. It is our hope that each year we better ourselves by listening to suggestions and providing an environment that is accessible, safe and comfortable to our harpers. Thank you to all of the people who attended and volunteered their time make this event possible. I'll see you next year!
Placing first at the following levels were: Joan Ricks (Rank Beginner); Ms. Erin Simmons (Novice); Katherine Mullins (Youth Apprentice); Christina Sanford (Adult Apprentice); Mrs. Ann Durant (Journeyman); and tied for first in the Master category were Marg Chauvin and Kathy Pearce. Mrs. Chauvin and Bill Messer also succeeded in a new category as the duo, "Heartstrings". We are very grateful to Clan Cumming and Clan Miller for their sponsorship of the Harper of the Day (Mrs. Chauvin) and Most Promising Harper (Ms. Katherine Mullins) awards.
Submitted by Kathy Pearce