Hi!   I’ve been a Pittsburgh freelance harpist for almost 30 years.  I began my professional public career in 1980, entertaining audiences every weekend in the Palm Court of the William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and also in the Terrace Room for their Sunday family brunch.

After four years there, I began playing for the next twelve years

regularly at the Grand Concourse at Station Square for their Sunday brunch.  This brought me into the mid ‘90’s when I was asked to

play at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo every evening  for three month

in the summer of 1996. What an interesting time for me!  It wasn’t too different from the movie “Lost in Translation”!  And I got to cross

over that palace moat frequently and take little side trips for the entire summer! 

My professional career didn’t stop there. I’ve been playing for all

kinds of weddings for over 29 years.  I’ve also performed at many openings of various new shops and for the actual building opening of Oxford Centre in downtown Pittsburgh.

Every year for about the last ten years I’ve been playing New Year’s Day at the exclusive Duquesne Club, ranked #1 in the country for the “best private club”.  I also sometimes play at various venues including  Saks Fifth Avenue, PPG Wintergarten, Fifth Avenue Place, CNG (now Dominion ) Tower, the Fulton Building, the Hilton Towers, Pittsburgh Golf Club, the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, Concordia Club etc. and    various other social functions held in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.    I’ve played as far West as California.  Internationally,

after Japan, I played briefly in Paris and Grand Cayman.  Besides weddings and business gatherings, I play for Bar Mitzvahs, funerals,

and I’ve even played at gravesites and in birthing rooms. You name it and I will be there!

I instruct students of all ages in my home in Shadyside- the area of Pittsburgh that I liken to Georgetown and the small neighborhoods of Europe.   I’ve also given Master Classes at the Eastman School of Music and  at Carnegie Mellon University.

My daughter Courtney (Hershey Bress) Hearn is the principal harpist    of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra located in Denver, CO.  Before   that she traveled around several countries in Asia, playing her harp,

and for three years she was principal harpist with the US Army Field band.

I’ve played for as many as 800 people at one time and for as few as

two people for their wedding anniversaries. Once I even played in the hospital room for the parents and their new- born child while they

had Dom Perignon Champagne and crabs from Florida  (on their own

linens and good China!)  Patients in the next room at Magee-Women’s Hospital didn’t complain.  I truly love what I do!

Inspired by my Tokyo “gig”,  I consequently took more trips to the

Far East including Thailand and Hong Kong, and I took several treks

in Nepal. I’m now having a blast recording my recent travels and experiences with my new digital camera that my children gave me.  I hope you enjoy the pictures and the sampler of my music.

Thank you for allowing me share this site with you!

                    Please call me at 412- MUSIC4U (687-4248)