Guest Harpist
Post date: Oct 24, 2014 3:56:59 PM
The 5th Grade Music Class continues learning about folk and classical string instruments and had the wonderful opportunity to hear guest harpist, Phoebe Durand McDonnell. Phoebe delighted her young audience and answered their many questions. Our students were able to try her 80 lb., 7 pedal concert harp and her smaller Irish harp. She is even lending the small harp to our music program for students to try! The music notation was similar to piano and contained many arpeggios. Phoebe played pieces by Handel, Hindemith, and Irish tunes.
Phoebe Durand McDonnell is an 18 year old harpist from Bar Harbor. She started playing harp at age 10, and currently studies at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School program on Saturdays in Boston. She loves playing in orchestra, and has played with five different orchestras in Maine -- Bay Chamber Odeon, University of Maine, Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Maine All-State Orchestra. In June she recorded for the radio show From The Top, which aired nationally this fall. Phoebe considers herself a "music theory geek" and is currently rehearsing the harp parts for Mahler's 1st Symphony, the Hindemith Harp Sonata, the Concerto for Harp by Handel, and an etude by J.S. Bach.
