20th Annual Festival of Harps at the Spreckles Performing Arts Center October 19, 2009

Su Wai, Traditional Burmese harp, and Ensemble
Triskela Celtic harp trio
Youssoupha Sidibe, African kora and the Mystics Rhythm Trio
Laura Zaerr, Classical Pedal harp, and string quartet
Arkansas Bindi Society, Barbara Imhoff, Pedal harp,
Indo-fusion Trio

Following on the heels of the wildly successful Celebration of World Harp
Music at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland this October, the 20th Annual
Festival of Harps at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park
will include a spectacular program of world harp music.

Su Wai on the delicate silk-strung bow harp and dancer Ei Ei Hlaing will
present a program of the ancient music of Burma. Maestro Youssoupha Sidibe
from West Africa will showcase the music of the kora, especially the
heartfelt Sufi music from Senegal. The Bay Area¹s own Celtic harp trio,
Triskela will perform the lively dance music and stirring ballads of Ireland
on a trio of handmade traditional folk harps with Teed Rockwell on
percussion, and other guests. World reknowned harpist and composer Laura
Zaerr will perform world premieres of her compositions, including the
Appalachian Suite for classical pedal harp and string quartet. She will be
joined by Oakland principal cellist Dan Reiter and the inimitable Shira
Kammen on violin. For the world fusion enthusiasts, Barbara Imhoff (of
Beasts of Paradise) and her new ensemble, Arkansas Bindi Society bring
together Indian ragas and kirtan melodies with unbeat rhythms. The Bindi
Society will be joined by flautist Stephen Schultz of Philharmonia Baroque.

Paraguayan harpist Carlos Reyes will be on hand for a guest solo
performance, and lobby artists will include a wide variety of harpists
including the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble, and the debut of the Bay Area
Children¹s Harp Ensemble, directed by Diana Stork.

The Festival of Harps is sponsored by the Multi-Cultural Music Fellowship,
a 510 c3 non-profit dedicated to bringing the world together through music:
www.multiculturalmusicfellowship.org

Official Website: http://www.rpcity.org/index.aspx?page=232&recordid=995