Lisa Fenwick

Harpist of the Finger Lakes

Based in Ithaca, serving Finger Lakes, Central New York, the Southern Tier and parts of Western New York

 

 
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About My Harps

I currently perform on 3 different but equally lovely professional harps.

I have two pedal harps that are both made the by French harp maker Camac and look alike except that one is a bit larger. I select the harp to bring for your special event that I think is most suitable to the location and occasion. The larger of these harps has 47 strings and is 75 inches tall. The smaller has 44 strings and is 67 inches tall. 

I often do weddings on my full size Celtic lever harp or my 44-string pedal harp.

The pedal harps are heavy and I need to know ahead of time about any steps so that I can decide if I can make the situation work with one of these larger harps or if I should bring my lever harp instead.

My 36-string Celtic lever harp is a full 5 octaves and is made from exotic bubinga wood by Dusty String Company. This harp has a lovely warm tone that carries well. I sometimes use this harp for weddings and private parties and is most often the harp of choice if getting married near a gorge. The harp is fairly easy to move and stairs are of minimal concern when I play this harp as it weighs only about 30 lbs. While I cannot play in direct sunlight with any of the harps, I sometimes choose this harp when asked to play outside. This is also the harp I use when performing in my harp duo Enchantment. The harp is 54 inches high. Please note there is some music in my repertoire that cannot be played on the lever harp. 

Above is my Celtic lever harp.

Above are the three harps I perform on. The two pedal harps are on the left and the one on the right is my Celtic lever harp.

Amplification is available for all harps but in many cases is not needed.I have a battery powered amplifier so electrical access is not required when I play outside. I have another larger electrical amplifier that I use when power is available, and for larger parties. The sound with the amplification is just to boost the volume of the harp but the harp continues to sound natural and acoustic. 

 

 

 

 Solo Harp Performances have included recitals for Lodi Historical Society, Cortland Music Festival,  Willard Chapel, Trinity Episcopal Church in Seneca Falls, Cortland Free Library, Tioga County Council on the Arts Always on Sunday Concert Series, Tompkins County Library,Tully Library, Hornell Library, Canisteo Library, Howard Library, Ithaca Music Club, and duo performances with Melissa Collins on WSKG's Television Sounds of the Season as well as a lobby performance and a lunchtime concert at Somerset Harp Festival in New Jersey as well as for the Tioga County Historical Society.

Lisa has performed extensively at weddings and private parties throughout the Southern Tier and Fingerlakes area, Hospice of Ithaca, Ithaca Festival, First Friday in Binghamton and in Cortland, Johnson Art Museum, Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, Paleontological Research Institute,  Professor Emeritus Dinner at Cornell for numerous years, Benefit Performance at Community School of Music and Arts in Ithaca, a St. Patrick's Day benefit event for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra,  Beginning in the Middle Harp Conference in Virginia, Lifelong Senior Group in Ithaca, Kendal of Ithaca numerous times, Bridges, Woodbrook, Walden Place, Alterra House, Appleridge and many other nursing homes and festivals throughout the Fingerlakes.

Lisa has played at countless private functions at Statler Hotel, Fountainbleu, Aurora Inn, Elmira Country Club, John and Elizabeth Inn, Harbor Hotel, Garrett Memorial Chapel, Sky Armory, Binghamton Club, La Tourelle, Mirbeau, Little York Pavillion, Taughannock Park, Treman Park, Wagner Winery, Sage Chapel, Bel Hurst Castle, Geneva on the Lake, Emerson Park, Ventosa Vineyards, Mariott Syracuse, Chapel at George J. Republic, St. Patrick's Church in Elmira, Skyline Lodge, Bethel Grove, Norton Chapel at Keuka College, Inn on the Lake, Chapel Hill in Rochester, Kenshaw Park, Pumpelly House, Sunset Park in Cayuga Heights, Lodi Historical Society, Lawrence Chapel, Basilica of the Sacred Heat in Syracuse, Greak Peak, Turning Stone, Glenora Winery and Benn Conger Inn, as well as many other churches, wineries, hotels and wedding venues.  She has performed at the Winter Spiral Celebration at Waldorf School, Skaneateles Country Club, Blue Frog Coffee House, Lansing Arts Festival several times, Triphammer Mall Craft Fair, as well as for Binghamton Madrigal Choir with Enchantment.  

 

When not playing harp, Lisa teaches flute, piano and harp to all ages. In addition to her regular flute studio she is also a KinderFlute teacher.

She has also completed the classes in Music Healing and Transition Program (MHTP), which trains musicians to learn to play appropriate music in hospitals and at bedside for patients in pain.

Lisa holds a degree in music performance in flute from Boston University's School for the Arts. Originally trained as a flutist, Lisa has served as an adjunct professor of music at SUNY Cortland and was on the faculty of the Community School of Music and Arts in Ithaca for over 20 years.

Lisa was originally drawn to the harp when playing in a flute and harp duo. She plays both pedal and lever harp. Lisa has played with the harp ensemble Harps on the Susquehanna and has played with other larger ensembles. She sometimes performs with Melissa Collins playing harp duets, harp and flute or harp and voice with Melissa singing.

 

 

Lisa Craig Fenwick, Harpist WeddingWire Couples Choice Award Winner 2018 Lisa Craig Fenwick, Harpist WeddingWire Couples Choice Award Winner 2017

 

 

 

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