Harpists Perform at First Thursday Concert

WALLA WALLA -- The next First Thursday concert will take place on May 1 at 12: 15 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 323 Catherine Street. The Walla Walla University harp ensemble will perform, directed by Chelsea Spence. Admission is free. Donations are gratefully accepted and will be given to the ASWWU mission project, "To Build a Home". This initiative hopes to raise $100,000 to build and maintain an orphanage in Peru.

Walla Walla University's harp ensemble started in 2012 as a harp duo, and has expanded to a group of as many as five harpists. The harp ensemble has performed for WWU church services, general recitals and WWU's annual PRISM concerts. Their repertoire consists of classical, celtic, sacred music, and show tunes.

May 1 will be the harp ensemble's first public recital and four members are eagerly preparing to perform. As a special treat, WWU senior, Bethany Gerber, will perform selected solos from her upcoming recital in May.

Chelsea Spence, harp instructor for both Walla Walla University and Whitman College, is the conductor of the ensemble. Spence is a former member of the Colorado State University Harp ensemble and co-founder of the Melodia Harp Duo. She holds a great appreciation for the joy that comes from making music with others.