Artists

We are delighted to announce that, once again, we were able to come up with a terrific lineup of musicians for you!!  We are very happy that the presenters accepted our offer to participate and we look forward to seeing everyone at the conference.


Our artists this year are, Stella Benson,Lucile Brais Hildesheim, TheGisèle & Robin duo, Kim Robertson, Frank Voltz and Sharlene Wallace.


To browse the list of vendors who will be attending, please access the Vendors' page.



Stella Benson

Founder and Director of the International Healing Musician's Program, and former executive director for the Music for Healing and Transition Program, Stella Benson is a leading educator, author and recording artist in the therapeutic music field. Beginning her healing music journey in 1992, Ms. Benson has provided healing music services to AIDS, oncology, and hospice patients, their families and loved ones. A pioneer in promoting healing music, her healing music recordings, educational books, and her international on-line program have proven to be invaluable to musicians, patients, and healthcare providers internationally.


Workshops by Stella:

You can also see her play at our Friday night concert!!

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Lucile Brais Hildesheim

Ottawa harpist Lucile Brais Hildesheim’s musical roots are in classical music. She began piano studies when she was seven and harp studies at eight in her native Montreal, ending with a BMus (Performance) from McGill University in 1979. She was a Finalist in the 1981 CBC National Competition, spent that summer as harpist in residence at the Banff Centre, and began a lovely relationship with CBC and Radio-Canada. Solo, Chamber and concerto performances took her to the summer festivals of Lanaudières and Domaine Forget, to Europe, the US and across Canada.


The purchase of a Celtic harp in the mid 90’s changed everything: New musical styles needed to be learned since the repertoire she knew did not suit the small harp. There begins the adventure into folk, South-American, Renaissance and Medieval music; improvisation and arranging. If she sometimes chooses to bring both harps to the stage, it is because of repertoire: Since these harps have very different sounds and personalities, Lucile uses these qualities to best carry the music. She is featured regularly in the series Chamber Music on Cleary Avenue, with the Strings of St.John’s, Seventeen Voyces, the Ottawa Choral Society, and various choirs & chamber groups. She has recorded with several choirs and produced two solo harp albums. Her new Christmas CD features her own arrangements. Lucile teaches harp at the University of Ottawa, and her private studio is busy with young and mature students.


Workshops by Lucile:

You can also see her play at our Saturday night concert!!

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Gisèle & Robin

Both Robin Grenon and Gisele Guibord studied in classical music at the Montreal Conservatory of Music, Gisèle in organ and Robin in classical guitar.


Fascinated by Paraguayan Harp, Robin studied in the 80’s with Eralio Gill in Montreal and with Alfredo Rolando Ortiz in California. Gisèle, an active concert and church organist, turned to the Celtic harp in 1993 and found in Robin a kindred spirit. Their partnership has resulted in unique and innovative compositions and arrangements that blend misty Celtic and sunny Paraguayan sounds.


Duo recordings include seven albums: Djiguedon: Celtic and Paraguayan repertoire; Trace d’Ange : Celtic Christmas; Marian Suite : compositions evoking the life of Mary of Nazareth; Harp from Paraguay (following their trip to Paraguay in 2007), Close to You: a selection of American songs from the 60’s and 70’s, Beatles Melodies arranged for harp, organ and percussions and Harps from Ireland their latest CD launched in 2010.


In 1996 they co-founded Harpissimo-Quebec (the Quebec Chapter of the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen) and continue to promote the Folk Harp in Québec.


Workshops by Gisèle & Robin:

  • October 1, 2011 - 10:45am to 12:00 (noon)
    LA GUARANIA

  • October 1, 2011 - 3:15pm to 4:30pm
    LA GALOPA

You can also see them play at our Friday night concert!!

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Kim Robertson

Her name has become synonymous with the gentle but powerfully evocative Celtic harp ... an instrument which for a thousand years held within its strings and wood the spiritual heartbeat and poetic breath of the Celtic race. Her ability to reach into its strings and pull from it these hidden treasures has made her one of the most popular harpists performing today.


As a pioneer in the American folk harp movement, her original compositions and arrangements of traditional Celtic music have stretched the boundaries of the harp for a new generation of performers. Combining innovative techniques with a passionate sense of tradition, she brings a modern touch to a centuries’ old instument.


Born in Wisconsin and classically trained on piano and orchestral harp, Kim’s discovery of the Celtic harp in the mid-70's grew into a profound love for the instrument, setting her upon the path of exploration for which she is now widely known. A renowned performer and instructor, her work encompasses over 20 album projects, 11 volumes of harp arrangements, three instructional videos and an international itinerary of concerts and retreats.


Workshops by Kim:

You can also see her play at our Saturday night concert!!

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Frank Voltz


Frank Voltz is a multi-faceted, multi-talented musician whose love of bringing music into the hearts of all people is only surpassed by his love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For over 20 years, Frank has pursued his music career as a performer, conductor, composer and arranger. As a concert performer on organ, piano, and harp, he has presented concerts and recitals in churches, theatres, and concert halls throughout America. He is an accomplished orchestral conductor as well as choral conductor. He has composed pieces for organ, piano, harp, and handbells and publishes many of his works through Chiera Music, his music publishing company. As an arranger, he continues to publish his gospel/jazz harp transcriptions. These arrangements introduce a fresh and exciting approach to traditional hymns and Christmas carols.


Frank loves to share his expertise and enthusiasm with others. From beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, Frank presents complicated concepts in simple, easy to understand terms; in a comfortable atmosphere that provide everyone with an informative and enjoyable experience.


Workshops by Frank:

You can also see him play at our Friday night concert!!

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Sharlene Wallace

Sharlene is one of Canada's most prolific and influential Celtic harpists who is at home on both Celtic (lever) and Classical (pedal) harps. After receiving her performance degree in Classical harp from the University of Toronto where she studied with Judy Loman, Sharlene worked with numerous folk harpists including Celtic harpist Kim Robertson and South American harpist Alfredo Rolando Ortiz.


Sharlene was the winner of two international competitions, the Lyon & Healy International Pop & Jazz Lever Harp Competition in Tucson, Arizona and the Concours d'Improvisation de Rencontres Internationales de Harpe Celtique in Dinan, France. She regularly tours across North America with her Celtic harp giving concerts, workshops, masterclasses and adjudicating as well as performing with bass player George Koller, flute/piano player Susan Piltch and accordion/fiddle player Adrian Dolan amongst others.


Sharlene has created four independent CDs heard frequently on national radio, "the rhyme & the river", "Journey of Shadows", "Beyond the Waves" and "Island Mountain" These CDs highlight Sharlene's unique and individual sound influenced by her explorations in Latin, Celtic and contemporary music. "Anticipation" is the most recent album, a collaboration of Sharlene and Susan Piltch. As well as writing many pieces for harp, Sharlene has been involved in numerous commissions for the lever harp by such Canadian composers as John Beckwith, Bruce Mather, Nancy Telfer, Evelyn Datl, Kirk Elliott and most recently a piece for orchestra and Celtic harp by Rodney Sharman. Sharlene is on the faculties of York and Guelph Universities and is the Principal Harpist with the Oakville and Kingston Symphony Orchestras.


Workshops by Sharlene:

You can also see her play at our Saturday night concert!!

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2011 Photo Gallery

These are a few pictures from our 2011 Harp Fest.

View the photos here