2006 Christmas concerts

Our Christmas concerts are over. I am always a little bit “glum” when they are over as I enjoy them so much. The people who come are always genuinely nice people. Many friends come. It is always good to see friends. I almost hate charging for our concerts as they are so much fun for me. But if we didn’t charge a ticket price, I’d have to get a REAL job!!!
A highlight of our concerts is when we play Jingle Bells. It has become somewhat of a tradition to play that song. One year I didn’t play Jingle Bells and I got an ear-full of “How come you didn’t play Jingle Bells?” When we perform Jingle Bells, we ask members of the audience who bring bells to come up on the stage and join us and shake their bells. It is tough to get the first 2 or 3 to come forward but once the first few come up on the stage we are joined by a lot of people. I ask the ones who brought bells if there is anyone with a special story about their bells. In the Everett concert on 12/15 Ron Love brought silver bells dating to the 1880’s from his grandfather’s sleigh. Ron’s grandfather was the first principal of Snohomish High School.
We had sold-out concerts in Kirkland on 12/11, Everett on 12/15 and Issaquah on 12/18. Issaquah was almost canceled as there was no power until 12:45 in the afternoon on 12/18. I received the phone call while eating lunch. I was kind of depressed about the power and what a change of disposition I had with a short sentence from the house manager saying, “The power is on!”
Auburn on 12/16 was almost full. It is a larger hall than the rest seating over 1000 people. I had special guests with me called the “South Sounds Strings,” a 25-member harp ensemble organized by Pat Wooster. Also with us is a renaissance-folk group called Erwillian, consisting of interesting instruments that blend well with the harp. They have guitars, whistles, recorders and dulcimers. They have become good friends over the last couple of years. In the group are Jordan, Scott, Robert Bethel and Jeff. With Erwillian, my harp and the 25 other harps, there were over 1200 individual strings on the stage at one time!
12/17 in Mt Vernon went very well. I was a bit concerned about the attendance since the date was changed due to the bad roads on 11/29 when it was first scheduled. Along with us in Mt Vernon was a choir from Wenatchee called the Wenatchee Men's Apollo Chorus. They are a bunch of normal guys who like to sing normal songs. Some are apple farmers, some are truck drivers and some are retired. I think of myself as a normal guy who happens to play the harp that likes to play normal songs.
The other performers with Katherine and myself for our concerts was Robert Puff who plays woodwinds, Ben Rud on percussions and Peter Wilson on the keyboard. Jon Pardue shared the keyboard with Peter on the dates Peter could not be there. Peter is getting married on 12/30 and had to be in Idaho while we had a few concerts to help make wedding plans. In Everett Peter’s fiancé Molly was able to join us in one concert with her fiddle/violin playing.
On 12/11 in Kirkland and 12/18 in Issaquah a friend of ours, Ken Gayle joined us with his gorgeous tenor voice. He sings with the Houston opera now. He comes home to Seattle to visit his family and we like to have him sing with us when he is available. He has hit the “big time” now. It is an honor to have him with us.
For all of our concerts, we serve Bronn-ies and coffee during intermission. It is used as a fundraiser for the Sultan High School band parents group with the donations that are received. Kris Pardue, the wife of Jon Pardue who played the piano with us made 2000
Bronn-ies this year! They were excellent, the best ever!
A song highlight was the song from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. I always like to play a song the one wouldn’t usually here on the harp to give a bit of a surprise to those that don’t know what a harp can sound like. It went over very well. When the piano starts in with the familiar bass pattern, there are giggles of surprise from the crowd.
We hope that you can attend a concert sometime, whether when we are near to you or if ever you are in Seattle at Christmas time. We had a great 25th year of performing our Christmas concerts. We look forward to many more years. We can’t thank you enough for your support.