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Photo Gallery
Have you taken some great photos at one of my events? Please share them by emailing them to me. If I choose to use any one of them, I'll send you a free CD of your choice to thank you!
St. Patrick's Day Party Time, 2011! I've performed for Peggy and Steve's popular St. Patrick's Day house party for over 20 years. And I look forward to playing for their neighbors, friends, and relatives every year. Thanks to J.J. Jackson for the great photos! Photos from last year's St. Pat's Day shindig are below. Just scroll down...
And here, with fabulous hosts Peggy & Steve:
Wedding photos! February 27th, I performed at the Dana Point Yacht Club for Jeanne & Joel's wedding (photos courtesy of Robert Yee Photography). Joel must have just told me a joke in this photo:
And here I'm setting the harp into the correct key for the next song:
Sweetheart Dance Reception, February 11th: fathers and their little girls came out in droves to the Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance in the Convention Center at Harvey's Resort, Lake Tahoe. While they waited to enter the ballroom, they got their photos taken and I played “happily ever after music”, the stuff of Disney films and other animated favorites. The girls were all wearing their party dresses and looked like little princesses. Here I am posing with a couple of young ladies in attendance.
CD Release Party! I selected November 20, 2010 to celebrate the release of my two solo albums, Blue Jeans: Modern Pop on the Solo Harp and Velvet: Timeless Standards on the Solo Harp. Wouldn't you know it--I selected the day of the first big snowstorm of the season here at Lake Tahoe. I invited everyone I could possibly think of, and 50 of my most wonderful friends braved the weather to attend. They made it a success, and I feel so fortunate to have such good friends. We raised nearly $200 dollars to help Bread and Broth provide Thanksgiving meals to the needy, too!
I’ll start off with photos by my dear friend Russ Gartz, who traveled from Sacramento (100 miles away!) to attend. This first photo was not changed or photoshopped in any way. I am lifting my 10-lb carbon fiber harp from Heartland Harps with one hand. (I brought the harp to the party for all to try lifting it. It was fun to see everyone’s look of surprise as they thought they needed to muscle the harp off the floor as they picked it up!)
Russ’ abstract harp photo --A close-up of the tuning pins and levers on the carbon fiber harp:
Suzanne from JJ Entertainment played music from my CDs and devised a quiz for guests, asking trivia questions about the tunes on my new CDs. And the biggest source of entertainment was ScreenBooth Lake Tahoe, a state-of-the-art touch screen video and camera guestbook. Guests donned silly hats and glasses and mugged for the camera.
Gary manned the ScreenBooth and took the following photos. That’s me in the oversized Elton John glasses:
My “graduate” harp students--so advanced they have now moved on in their harping careers--Wanda and Fred. Nice hand position, Wanda!
And comedian Howie Nave and his fiancé Nancy pose for the ScreenBooth camera:
Some miscellaneous photos taken at the party...
A party guest, who prefers to remain nameless, in a very strange silly pose at the big party spread, courtesy of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, where the party was held. I asked him the meaning of the pose, and he said, "I'm like a dog. My whole body gets uncontrollably excited by food."
And signing CDs for party guests:
On the radio: Ahead of my CD release party on November 20th, Howie Nave, comedian and host of the Improv at Harvey’s in Tahoe, invited me as a guest on his radio show “Howie’s Morning Rush” on KRLT.fm. The show aired on November 17th, and you can hear it all on my Radio and TV page. Silliness abounds, as can be seen in the photos below.
This first photo, Howie appears to be playing “air harp”, unbeknownst to me.
And here, I have no idea what Howie was thinking when he gazed at me with that expression. Hey Howie, tell me what that look is all about...
Bridal show action, and not the haunted kind (scroll down below for an description of a possible bridal fair haunting). This was the first bridal fair held at Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe in some ten years. I was at the first one back then, and I just had to be a part of this one, which took place on September 26, 2010. Here I am, sitting in my booth, playing for all brides in attendance:
Below is a souvenir shot form the first outing for my new 10-pound carbon fiber harp, which my friend Derek of Lake DJ Service calls “the stealth harp”. I chose to use the carbon fiber harp for this performance, because I was informed that I could not park close to the outdoor amphitheater, where the wedding was to take place. It was a long walk downhill from the closest parking (and a long walk uphill afterwards). The harp was wonderful, and it was a beautiful wedding. Now if could only carry the harp in a backpack....
October wedding: This beautiful photo was taken on a chilly October 16th afternoon wedding for Holly and Steven at Zephyr Point Presbyterian Center by ciprianphotography.com.
Harp party! Yes, a party for harps, and harpists. I heard through the harpist grapevine that Dave Woodworth, the owner and craftsman for Heartland Harps created a newfangled full-size lever harp that weighs only 10 pounds and could survive weather and being knocked about. His new harp was made of carbon fiber, stuff that can be whacked against a pole and it will receive barely a scratch, making for an "industrial strength harp". Incredibly, it’s paper-thin material.
Wiktionary.org defines carbon fiber as “a strong material made by the pyrolysis of a synthetic fiber such as rayon”. I have no idea what this means, all I know is that Dave had to buy an autoclave to bake the harp into its shape. Take a look at the full size lever harp, the Delight for yourself. You can even see the fibers in the harp.
I needed a harp that could be taken places a wooden harp could not (such as hiking into the forest, sitting in beach sand with water lapping at my feet, and climbing three flights to sit at the top deck of a paddle wheeler, for instance). But I needed to test this instrument out before I committed to buying it.
I was in luck. Dave was making a whirlwind tour of the west coast in July and August, and he scheduled a stop at my studio on August 22nd. I dubbed it a "harp party", a chance to road test my lovely wooden Triplett harps against the ultra-modern carbon fiber harps that Dave built and hauled in his van from North Carolina.
Out came the appetizers, and about ten folks dropped in to test the carbon fiber harps against the wooden harps. The verdict: I ended up purchasing one of Dave’s black Delight model of carbon fiber harp. No, it does not sound like my Triplett’s. I love the overtones and resonance of a good wooden harp, but for the practicality of this harp, it will do just fine. The sound difference is akin to the difference in sound between an electric guitar and a wooden acoustic guitar. Jo, one of my harp students, called the new Delight harp a “carbonated” harp, so I nicknamed the harp “Bubbles”.
And if you want a 10-pound harp, contact me at anne@celticharpmusic.com or 800-255-6318, and I’ll help you get one!
Below, Dave and I stand among a sea of harps. The wooden harps are all Triplett harps. The black, red, and white harps with the gold tuning pins are Dave’s assorted carbon fiber harps. Black is the natural color of the carbon fiber harp, but for people who want other colors, he can paint the harp any color of the rainbow (as long as the color is available as a paint hue from an auto parts store).
And here are a few other harp party guests. That’s Alex on the left and Gloria standing next to Dave. You can see the carbon fibers in the black harp in this photo:
Helen's 101st: I received a surprise phone call from Pastor Rob Orr, asking me to do him a favor--play for a 101st birthday party. I couldn’t resist. How often does this kind of opportunity come up? So I played for Helen’s big birthday party at Barton Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility in South Lake Tahoe on August 2nd. Seán the bagpiper showed up and we played a few tunes together.
I asked Helen, “What’s your secret to a long life?” Her answer: “Honey, there’s no secret. Just let it all hang out!”
Here are some shots from Helen’s 101st birthday party:
Joined by Seán on the bagpipes:
Helen and her family--That cake barely fed everyone! (more than 50 guests in attendance)
Here's Seán, the birthday girl, and I. Helen is wearing a button that says, “I survived damn near everything!” Sounds like something Helen would have said.
Celtic harp and bagpipes on stage together again! Eighth generation piper Seán Cummings and I played at our 5th annual Celtic Concert, filled with good music and lighthearted humor, on July 28, 2010. It was part of the Valhalla Summer Music Festival. We performed at the Boathouse Theatre, sitting on the shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe. As you can see in the photos below, the wall behind the stage is a glass window looking out onto the Lake. A simply stunning setting for a Celtic concert!
Here I am, performing a solo against the wonderful backdrop of blue Lake Tahoe. Below, I’m joined by Seán the piper, and then another shot capturing a moment when I had a chance to listen and enjoy his playing.
And here is a cool close-up taken while I was playing:
On the radio with the bagpiper: Prior to the concert, local Tahoe comedian Howie Nave invited Seán and I onto his radio show, “Howie’s Morning Rush” on KRLT fm. We had a blast, and these photos prove it. Thank you, Howie! (Go to the TV, Radio & Video page, scroll down to the radio clips, and listen in on the show)
Here’s a sweet picture of Seán the piper, Howie, and I in the radio studio.
Tea party! May is a perfect time for tea parties! I performed at Dr. June Scofield’s tea party at Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant in Placerville, California, on May 13th. Guests were encouraged to wear big Victorian-style hats, and you can see the hat I chose for the occasion below. We played a round of “Name that Tune”, where I performed songs from Broadway and the movies for everyone to guess their titles. Dr. June knows how to throw a great party!
Ren Faire Reminisces: Some of my earliest performance experiences were at the nation’s first Renaissance Pleasure Faire held in Agoura, California. Since then, I caught the performance bug and was hooked on playing at Ren faires throughout California with my trusty harp.
My latest performances were at the Cain’s Crossing Renaissance Faire in Auburn, California on Mother’s Day. Fairgoers and performers alike dress in Renaissance period clothing and celebrate the heraldry of 1500s England. Visitors mingled with royalty, cheered for dueling sword fighters, bartered with merchants, indulged in wonderful foods, and of course, experienced my silly brand of humor coupled with historical Renaissance period harp music.
Here are a few photos from Mother’s Day at Ren faire. First, a close-up of me playing on stage:
This photo answers the question: How do you hug a man on stilts? Answer: Very carefully so that he doesn’t topple over.
And this is by far, my favorite moment of the entire faire. Yes, I actually played in the rain with the help of two good Samaritans. That’s me on the stage with Katy on the left and Wanda on the right. (Hmmm. What was on Wanda’s mind while she was holding that umbrella?)
This final photo shows me with a few of my faire friends. That’s me, bottom left, sitting next to Sandy (who has performed as good Queen Bess in past faires). Bob is standing on the left, with Eric the pirate, on the right. My roadie, Marni, stands in the middle, looking like she's having a grand time. Thanks, Marni, for taking the great pictures above and helping me out in the rain at Ren Faire!
Portraits: The beautiful photos below are from my February, 2010 photo shoot with the talented photographer, Ciprian. These were all taken inside Antoci’s at the Genoa Lakes Golf Club in Genoa, Nevada. More of these photos will appear inside the liner notes and packaging for my upcoming CD releases.
Haunted Bridal Fair? I participated at the Gold Country Bridal Fair February 21, 2010. It was held in the Sequoia, an historic California Gold Rush period mansion turned into a beautiful restaurant. I played for brides upstairs, in Molly's Parlor. Below are a few photos from the event.
My assistant, or "roadie", Rose took both of these photos in this old mansion that is assumed to be haunted. In the first picture, you can clearly see round shapes, a moon shape above the door one at the bottom of my dress, and a smaller one to the side of the doorway. These are said to be paranormal "orbs" or ghosts in the form of balls of light. I never saw them with my naked eyes, and nothing particularly strange happened, but I've not seen these balls in any other photos. Read about ghost stories from the Sequoia here.
No orbs below--I'm just playing for the listening pleasure of the guests of the bridal fair.
I performed at the Premier Wedding Show at Sacramento's Arden Hills Country Club on January 3, 2010. I was stationed in a booth inside a large banquet room. Here I am, playing for visitors to my booth:
The two lovely wedding photos below were taken by Angelene Hall of Hall Creations Photography. Thank you Angelene!
All bundled up and playing in cccccold temperatures, this photo of Anne was taken on October 6, 2009 outside Gatekeeper's Museum, at William B. Layton Park in Tahoe City, California:
Here's Anne on a warmer day, taking a break from playing on August 15, 2009 at Sugar Pine Point State Park. Lake Tahoe, California:
Here is an interesting perspective--This is my view of the harp as I play! The photo below was generously provided by Courtney Wilson Photography.
Art Center Concert: July 5th, 2009, I performed a special concert at the Mendocino Art Center, located 150 miles north of San Francisco in the quiet coastal village of Mendocino. This performance was part of the gallery’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, and what better way to celebrate than to play harp on July 4th weekend! Below are a couple of my favorite photos from the event:
Here are two stills from a video, shot by Phill Sheffield of Sheffield Multimedia on June 25, 2009. Footage was recorded at Harvey’s Cabaret inside Harvey's Resort Hotel and Casino at Lake Tahoe. What will I be playing in the video? It’s a surprise! Phill is still working on the video, and I'll let you know when it is posted to YouTube...Stay tuned....
St. Patrick’s Day 2010! For the past 20-odd years, I've performed for Peggy and Steve’s popular St. Patrick’s Day party. They decorate their home with every bit of St. Patrick’s Day kitsch possible, and then they invite their friends, neighbors, and family to feast on a complete St. Patrick’s Day meal, including the traditional corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. The menu features Peggy’s perfectly baked Irish soda bread and her fabulous baked brie (in the shape of a shamrock). J.J.’s homemade beers are also a mainstay of this yearly shebang (Steve made his own brew, too).
Here’s a sample of this year’s party photos:
Anne with hosts Peggy and Steve:
Sheri of Dita Photography sent me this lovely photo to post here. It was taken at a wedding performance at The Chateau at Incline Village September 14, 2008. Thank you, Sheri!
I visited Minden Elementary School in Minden, Nevada and gave a presentation to 4th through 6th grade students. My lesson plan included an introduction to the Celtic harp in Renaissance England and Ireland, along with a full discussion of the culture and music from that period. Here are a few photos from the January 22nd presentation:
This photo was taken at a December 22, 2008 wedding at Lakefront Wedding Chapel in South Lake Tahoe, California:
These two photos were taken in my hometown in Lake Tahoe: one under the pines and the other playing in her home studio. (Photography by Jonah M. Kessel)
At Kristi Harrison’s Fall Equinox Renaissance theme wedding at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, Nevada, everyone was dressed in period costumes, including me:
At Lake Tahoe, nestled in the high Sierra mountain range between California and Nevada, summer is wedding season. Here is a classic pose taken at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club (photographer—Frederick Green).
And here is another summer photo taken at a wedding at beautiful Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe. (Photographer—Jeff Lamppert)
I recorded her upcoming solo CD projects September 10-12, 2007 at Paul Stubblebine’s Studio in downtown San Francisco. Below are some photos from the sessions.
Here I am, performing while surrounded by microphones (photo taken by Marina Ledin):
The crew consults with each other while examining the music score. From left to right: Victor and Marina Ledin, my producers, and Paul Stubblebine, engineer:
Everyone’s thumbs went up, simultaneously, when I played a perfect take! This was my view from inside the studio, looking through the glass at the crew in the control room (from left to right, Victor, Marina, Chris (Paul’s assistant engineer), and Paul):
Rockin' at the Hard Rock Café Lake Tahoe, inside Harvey’s Casino, at Stateline, Nevada, on September 13, 2007:
Some fun stills captured from my YouTube video, filmed by Phill Sheffield from Sheffield Multimedia, July, 2007.
A couple of photos performing during the silent auction at the Recording Academy Honors at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, April 29, 2007:
On tour in Ireland in March of 2007, I played “Carrickfergus” at the Renvyle House Hotel, Connemara, County Galway. What you can't tell in that picture is that Donnie O'Donald, who is seated next to me, is just waiting for my rental harp to break another string. It was the fussiest harp I've ever played.
Christmas Eve, 2006, I performed at Sealed with a Kiss, an elegant shop specializing in lingerie, evening wear, wedding accessories, and unique gifts. The shop is located at Heavenly Village at South Lake Tahoe, California:
Russ Gartz, using a vintage camera, took these two lovely photos at East West Bookshop concerts in Sacramento. The color photo was taken on February 7, 2006, and the black and white photo is from the June 6, 2006 concert:
Taking a break while recording “A Light in the Forest” at Skywalker Sound in Marin County, California, September 2005. From left to right: Michael Frost (violist), Dorothy A. Hawkinson (filler), Chris Caswell (percussionist), me, Char Berta (flutist), and Alan Fuller (guitarist):
At the Cozmic Café on August 19, 2005, my recording engineer for all the Celtic Club recordings, John La Grou, brought his guitar on stage and sat in on a set:
Below are photos taken from my CD release party for “Mermaids & Mariners”, September 21, 2004, at the Edgewood Golf Club, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Photos taken by Frederick Green. Here, from left to right, are Michael Frost on viola, Dorothy A. Hawkinson on fiddle, me on the Celtic harp, and Alan Fuller on guitar:
And here’s an artsy shot looking at me through the strings as I play at the Edgewood:
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