Special Guest this year is legendary storyteller/harper Patrick Ball

Patrick Ball is considered one of the premier Celtic harpers and spoken word artists in the world today. He has recorded nine instrumental and three spoken word albums which have sold well over one-half million copies internationally and won national awards in both the music and spoken word categories. His busy touring schedule keeps him on the road throughout Canada and the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Along with Celtic Harp and Story, Patrick’s beguiling blend of music and spoken word concerts, Patrick has written and currently performs two acclaimed solo musical theatre pieces: O'Carolan's Farewell to Music, which brings to the stage the legendary life, the turbulent times and the glorious music of Ireland's most celebrated and beloved musician, Turlough O'Carolan, and The Fine Beauty of the Island, a musical journey to Ireland's legendary Blasket Islands in search of a deeply haunting tune and the vanished islanders who played it.

Patrick also presents two ensemble performances, The Flame of Love, a spoken word and Early Music retelling of the greatest of medieval legends, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult, and Legends of the Celtic Harp, a musical journey into the myths, magic and fabled history of a legendary instrument.

Patrick, who has a Master’s Degree in History, has been awarded grants for his work by the Zellerbach Family Fund and the California Arts Council and is the recipient of the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Association.
www.patrickball.com

Lori Pappajohn

Winter Harp Director

Celtic harp, voice

As a soloist and with her ensembles, Lori Pappajohn has performed in Canada, the United States, Chile, Britain, Ireland and Greece. Lori Pappajohn has also toured for Community Concerts, a division of Columbia Artists, New York. In 2008 she was nominated BC Touring Artist of the Year by the BC Touring Council for her “artistic and performance excellence with Winter Harp.” She is also the recipient of the Bernie Legge Cultural Award for her outstanding contribution to the arts in New Westminster as both an artist and a newspaper reporter.

Lori Pappajohn is one of the leaders in the harp world, breaking away from traditional classical styles and exploring world, Celtic and Latin styles. So unique is her music that Lori Pappajohn has been featured at the world’s most prestigious harp events -- the World Harp Congress, the International Jazz and Pop Harp Conference and the International Folk Harp Conference. In 2011, she was one of the key directors for the highly-successful World Harp Congress which brought some 900 harpists from around the world to Vancouver.

Lori Pappajohn’s performances of ancient Greek music on harp garnered her an invitation to play for the reinstatement of the ancient games in Delphi, Greece, where she performed with the Isadora Duncan Institute of New York City.

A composer, arranger and an award-winning journalist, Lori Pappajohn has eight recordings, two of which have been nominated for awards and all of which have garnered international success.

Lori Pappajohn has produced a documentary about the history of the harp, and has been featured in a music video for Bravo Television. Her Winter Harp Ensemble has been showcased on television and radio, including on CBC Television’s prestigious Opening Night series. Lori Pappajohn is on the faculty of B.C.’s International Celtic Harp School which features acclaimed harp teachers from around the world.

Joaquin Ayala

Medieval instruments

Joaquin Ayala's talents span both the musical and writing fields and most recently oil painting. The award-winning writer is a classical pianist and plays a number of other instruments including the harpsichord, of which he has a small collection. Joaquin and his rare medieval instruments have been featured numerous times on radio and television.