March 10, 2013 | Schmier Concert
Schmier Concert, featuring Kerstin Allvin, Harpist & Laura Larson, Flutist
To RSVP please contact Stephanie Brovenick at 248-661-5700 or stephanie@temple-israel.org.
More Information: www.temple-israel.org
Concert: Sunday, March 10, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Temple Israel
5725 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
On Sunday, March 10, 2013, the Temple Israel Schmier Chapel Chamber Series is pleased to present an evening of resplendent music featuring harpist, Kerstin Allvin. Well known in our community and throughout the country for her masterful and moving performances, Ms. Allvin will be joined by the renowned flutist, Laura Larson, of the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra.
Kerstin Allvin, BM, MM, RYT, has won numerous awards and competitions throughout her career as a concert harpist and has performed across the U.S. from Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie to the historic Carmel Mission in California. Miss Allvin was guest Principal Harpist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on their latest European tour. She performed concerts for the World Music Festival in Préfaille as well. She has recorded with Stevie Wonder, Oleta Adams and R. Kelly and performed with Josh Groben, Natalie Cole, The Three Tenors and many others.
Laura Larson received her BM degree from the University of Miami and began her professional flute career at the age of 20 playing piccolo in the Miami Philharmonic. She was awarded prizes in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition (1976 and 1977) and Financial Federal Musical Showcase Competition in Miami Beach (1975). After moving to the Detroit area, she became principal flutist of the Flint Symphony Orchestra. She also plays flute and piccolo with the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra, is on the adjunct applied faculty at Wayne State University and is a Suzuki Flute teacher trainer.
The Schmier Chapel Concert Series is presented in loving memory of Leslie R. Schmier and Jessica R. Schmier.
March 14–20, 2013 | Naoko Yoshino is coming to the D! | Harp Concert and Master Class
Naoko Yoshino, Harpist, is coming to the D! March 14–20, 2013
Naoka Yoshino’s website: www.naokoyoshino.com
Concert: March 17, 2013
2:15 p.m. “All Harps Considered” Student Harp Ensemble
3:00 p.m. Naoko Yoshino Concert
She is the guest artist in a concert with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings on Sunday, March 17th at 3:00 pm in the Refectory of the Kirk in the Hills Church, Bloomfield Hills, MI. The program is a beautiful showcase of solo and chamber pieces for the harp, with seminal pieces from the repertoire such as Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro. And Don’t Miss “All Harps Considered” before the concert, starting at 2:15 pm, will be a pre-concert performance of the student harp ensemble of Kerstin Allvin. Harp students from the Oakland University Preparatory Division and the private studio of Kerstin Allvin will perform a half hour program of pieces for harp ensemble. Hurry, tickets are going fast, fast, fast! Concert tickets and event information: www.detroitchamberwinds.org
Ms. Yoshino will also be giving master classes at Oakland University and University of Michigan.
Master Class: March 18, 2013, 6 p.m.
There is limited space available to perform or audit the class at Oakland University, Varner Recital Hall, Rochester on Monday, March 18th at 6:00 pm. The concert and OU Master class are sponsored in part by the Judd Family Endowed Fund Award from Oakland University and the American Harp Society. For more information email Kerstin Allvin: allvin@oakland.edu.
Master Class: March 19, 2013, 7 p.m.
University of Michigan School of Music. Open to the public. For more information email Joan Holland: joanholl@umich.edu.
Blog: Creative Harp Collective International 2012 Review
October 2012
Just a few notes about the first annual Creative Harp Collective International 2012, in Tobermory, Canada, that I birthed and created this past July with my harp buddy, Anita Leschied.
The Collective brought a group of amazing women together for three days in July to explore the harp in all of its creative aspects. The mix of ages was a delight and an added learning bonus for all as we shared ideas from all levels of harp and life experiences. There were three days of workshops: everything from harp basics to harp therapy, improvisation, yoga, music theory, technique, a drumming and rhythm class, meditation and at the end, an awesome concert! All Collective members performed in ensembles, duo or solo to a packed Tobermory United Methodist Church. The Tobermory Drum Circle even performed with us. It was an amazing evening.
Christa Grix was our guest performer this year. She was incredible. The audience loved her and our church in the woods was packed. Plus, after spending time learning about improvisation and being creative at the harp, Christa was the top icing as she jazzed her way through one improv after another, keeping the rhythm popping and the beautiful melodies flowing.
I felt so thrilled that the Collective came together as I had dreamed. It even took on a beautiful life of its own. Anita was a true inspiration to us all as she shared her wisdom of harp in therapeutic uses. She discussed the use of modes and the ancient practices of healing with musical vibration. How amazing to have my traditional trained eyes opened to this kind of healing therapy from an instrument that I have been playing all of my life. It clearly is time …
Creative Harp Collective International 2013
July 16 – 20, 2013, Tobermory, Ontario, Canada.
June 1, 2012 | Detroit Torino Urban Jazz Project with the DSO
Detroit Torino Urban Jazz Project with the DSO
Friday, June 1, 2012
For more information: www.detroitsymphony.com
The North American premiere of my husband Jim Hartway’s “Urban Pictures” for Jazz Quartet and Symphony Orchestra.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with the Detroit Jazz Festival, presents the Detroit-Torino Urban Jazz Project (DTUJP), a music and multimedia performance that highlights the parallels between these two sister cities, each united by a shared history of an automobile industry that has been forced to deal with drastic changes in the modern industrial world.
The concert will feature the Detroit Symphony Orchestra along with the Detroit-Torino Urban Jazz Quartet led by internationally-acclaimed jazz saxophonists Chris Collins (Detroit) and Emanuele Cisi (Torino) complete with a unique projected time-lapse and photography of Detroit and Torino, Italy created specifically for this performance.
This performance marks the North American premiere of two newly commissioned pieces by composers James Hartway (Detroit) and Carlo Boccadoro (Torino). The program also features works by many other authors of the Italian and American classical repertoire.
May 19, 2012 | Student Harp Ensemble Recital
Student Harp Ensemble Recital
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 1:30 pm
Venue
St. John Fisher Chapel
3665 Walton Rd.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Free and open to the public:
Harp Students from the Oakland University Preparatory Division Harp Class & the Private Studio of Kerstin Allvin.
Q: How many harps does it take to play the most beautiful music on earth?
A: Ten harpists! (plus ten benches, ten music stands, ten tuning keys and ten dolly’s)
Ten harp students, harp teachers and OU graduates will come together to perform harp music for solo harp and harp ensemble.
March 30, 2012 | To Detroit With Love: Original Music at Wayne State University
To Detroit with Love: Original Music and Commentary at Wayne State University
March 30, 2012, 11:45 a.m.
Venue
Schaver Music Recital Hall
Old Main Building, Wayne State University
Corner Cass and Hancock
Artists
Dr. James Hartway, composer
Laura Larson, Flute
Kerstin Allvin, Harp
Marian Tanau, Violin
String Quartet
Tickets
Free Admission
To Detroit With Love: Original music and commentary about the creative process and the City of Detroit. Distinguished Professor Dr. James Hartway will present three of his compositions that were “inspired” by the city and will discuss the process by which they were composed. The guest performing artists will be the Larson/Allvin flute and harp duo, performing Detours, the fusion piano trio and the Fusion string quartet led by Detroit Symphony violinist Marian Tanau performing City Sketches and Dream Cruise — a City Reimagined. This concert is given as part of the Murray E. Jackson University Scholar in the Creative Arts presentations with which Dr. Hartway is involved, and is sponsored by the WSU Academy of Scholars.
Photo credits
Generals by Don Jones
James Hartway by Blake Discher
More Information
Wayne State University Department of Music Calendar (pdf, 1.02 MB)
February 24 & 26, 2012 | Detroit Symphony Orchestra | Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls & Brahms: Requiem
Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls & Brahms: Requiem
Friday, February 24, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26, 2012, 3:00 p.m.
On the Transmigration of Souls is an amazing commemorative to a tragic event in this country, and an example of brilliantly written American music of the 21st century employing a large orchestra with choruses. It is a moving work and also uplifting as it speaks to the greatness of the human spirit as does the second piece on the program, the Brahms’s Requiem.
Venue
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall
3711 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI
Program
John Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls
For orchestra, chorus, children’s choir and pre-recorded soundtrack (2002)
Johannes Brahms: A German Requiem
Artists
Kerstin Allvin, Harp II
Leonard Slatkin Conductor
Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Andriana Chuchman, soprano
Kyle Ketelsen, bass-baritone
UMS Choral Union, chorus
Michigan State University Children’s Choir, children’s choir
Tickets
www.detroitsymphony.com
On the Transmigration of Souls was requested by the New York Philharmonic as the opening work of its 2002/2003 season and to commemorate the lives of those killed on the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.
For this work Adams assembled a text comprised of three main sources: brief fragments taken from missing person signs that had been posted by friends and family members in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy; personal reminiscences (principally drawn from interviews appearing in the “Portraits of Grief” series in The New York Times); and a randomly chosen list of names of the victims.
The work also employs a “soundscape” designed in collaboration with Mark Grey that surrounds the audience with prerecorded city sounds (quiet traffic, voices, footsteps, etc.) and the reading by many different voices of the names of the victims.
For information regarding The Transmigration of Souls and John Adams go to: www.earbox.com.
December 11, 2011 | Detroit Institute of Arts | Michigan Harp Ensemble: Angelaire’s Again
Michigan Harp Ensemble: Angelaires Again!
Sunday, December 11, 2011 | 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Venue
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
Artists
Lydia Cleaver
Christa Grix
Kerstin Allvin
Patricia Terry Ross
Amy Ley
The Michigan Harp Ensemble
Five harpists perform a musical memoir of one of the most famous harp ensembles ever created, the Angelaires. The Michigan group plays a historical tribute to the Angelaires performing music written expressly for them when they toured in the 1950s. The repertoire includes pop and classical numbers arranged for the harp.
Performances
Seatings begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. with concerts beginning at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Seat assignments are based on the date tickets are purchased. Tables for two may be requested, but availability is limited. When such tables are not available, small groups will be seated together at large tables. Performances are approximately one hour long and not intended for children younger than seven years of age.
Continental Breakfast & Concert (11:00 performance only)
Ticket Price: $20 Tickets includes fresh fruit, breakfast breads, coffee, tea, and juice. Museum admission ($8 value) is included. Excludes ticketed exhibitions.
Brunch & Concert (1:30 performance only)
Ticket Price: $35 Tickets include a hot entrée and coffee or tea. Vegetarian entrees, which are also vegan, must be requested when ordering tickets. Museum admission ($8 value) is included. Excludes ticketed exhibitions.
Concert-only Seating
Ticket Price: $15 Tickets may be purchased in advance and, if available, on the day of the performance. Museum admission ($8 value) is included. Excludes ticketed exhibitions.
Tickets
Tickets may be purchased online at tickets.dia.org. You may also order by calling the Box Office at 313.833.4005 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Ticket reservations will be held at the door. Tickets will not be mailed. Tickets are non-refundable.
April 18, 2011 | Duo Flute & Harp Recital
Duo Flute & Harp Recital: Georges Lambert, flute & Jung Wha Lee, harp
Monday, April 18, 2011, 8:00 pm
Partners in life as well as on the stage, Georges Lambert and Jung Wha Lee have been performing together for the past five years, touring Europe, the U.S. and Asia, as well as participating in music festivals. Their common goal is to share their love of chamber music with a large audience, through their greatly varied repertory. They will be joined by Jeffrey Zook and Kerstin Allvin for a Monday evening duo of flute and harp.
Venue
Varner Recital Hall
Squirrel Rd
Rochester, MI 48309
Oakland University
Artists
George Lambert, flute
Jung Wha Lee, harp
with
Kerstin Allvin, harp
Jeffery Zook, flute
Tickets
$13 general
$11 seniors
$7 students
Reserve
Call 248.370.3013
Online www.startickets.com
For more information regarding the duo’s events in Michigan, visit www.semfa.org.
May 22, 2011 | The Angelaire’s Again!
The Michigan Harp Ensemble Presents “The Angelaire’s Again!”
Sunday, May 22, 2011, 3:00 p.m.
Venue
First United Methodist Church, Birmingham
1589 West Maple Rd.
Birmingham, MI 48009
Artists
Lydia Cleaver
Christa Grix
Kerstin Allvin
Patricia Terry Ross
Amy Ley
The Michigan Harp Ensemble
Photo: (standing L to R) Lydia Cleaver, Christa Grix, Kerstin Allvin (seated L to R) Patricia Terry Ross, Amy Ley
The First United Methodist Church, 1589 West Maple Rd., Birmingham, is sponsoring a concert of music for five harps with the Michigan Harp Ensemble. First heard in performances in Detroit in 1986, The Michigan Harp Ensemble has reunited for a stunning concert of music for five harps. Members of the ensemble include important and influential educators and harpists from all over the city. Rarely is it possible to hear such a combination of renown and versatile harpists and to experience the rich sonorities of the instruments together. They look forward to continuing the harp tradition in Metropolitan Detroit.
This very special concert at FUMC, will be a musical memoire and a historical review of one of the most famous harp ensembles ever created, The Angelaire’s. The ensemble will perform music written expressly for the Angelaire’s and from the era in which it was created, the 1950’s. Elyze Ilku, the Principal Harpist Emeritus of our own Detroit Symphony Orchestra and one of the early Angelaire’s under Columbia Artist Management will delight the audience with her introductions of our selections.
The Angelaire Harp Ensemble
For nearly ten years, a group of five young women and their five harps toured the United States and Canada, traveling by train, car and trailer, bus and a variety of rescue vehicles.
It all began in late summer in 1948 when a Philadelphia booking agent contacted Virginia Werner Hatter about the possibility of using multiple harps on some jobs he had booked.
Virginia accepted the offer. She realized the group had no popular music to play for these jobs and she quickly wrote arrangements for Malaguena and medleys from Oaklahoma and South Pacific. With the money from these first jobs the Ensemble purchased its first set of gowns, and continued to perform, but with no contract.
During this time Howard Lanin heard the group, hired it, gave it a three-month contract which was followed by an extended contract, and made his son Mike its personal manager.
For this type of work the ensemble primarily played popular music (additional arrangements had been commissioned) backed by a band, and later lighting charts would be incorporated. Almost always Clair de lune would be included as the ensemble’s solo number.
The players on 26 March 1950 made the first of two television appearances on the Paul Whiteman Show. They also appeared in shows of Frank Sinatra (who sent each girl a perfect yellow rose), Ed Sullivan, The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, and a CBC show originating from Montreal.
On 23 May 1951 the Lanins arranged an audition with Columbia Artists Management and the Angelairs would begin touring for Community Concerts in January 1952, with nine concerts on the East Coast, traveling by train.
The season of 1953-54 would find the ensemble the heaviest booked at Columbia, with over one hundred concerts covering the United States, and Canada from Ontario east to Prince Edward Island.
The 1957 tour would be the last tour for Columbia, and after some work for the Lanins in the spring of 1958, the adventure would end.
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Creative Harp Collective International 2013 Harp Workshop
If you have never played the harp before, learn to play and receive the harps’ healing benefits. Experience yoga as a guide to breath and body awareness, enhancing performance and concentration. Enjoy playing in harp ensemble and receive expert coaching from professional harpists. Click for more details.
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