“You look like you having so much fun when you play! You radiate love for what you do.”
Claire, Audience member
When I was eight, I announced to my parents, “I want to play the harp.” Their wisely cautious response was to give me piano lessons! After a year of piano practice, my passion was unabated so my parents arranged for me to study harp.
And once I got my fingers on strings, there was no looking back!
I started playing professionally at age fourteen performing for weddings and open houses. Soon, I mixed my love of public speaking into my playing and expanded from just background music to being the entertainer. Programs pushed me to discover new genres of music, expanding from my love of medieval and classical music into requested genres like Pop, Jazz and Rock & Roll.
Through my teens, I used the business of playing harp to pay for all my own instruments, equipment. My different size harps pushed me to play different styles of events. Then when I decided to use my college to study writing and communication, playing harp helped me earn my degree debt free.
“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”
Acts 2:28
I’d been playing for several years when people began to ask me “When are you going to make a CD?” So at age 18, I recorded my first cd, The Joy We Share, using my own arrangements of hymns for solo harp. Soon, that was followed my by Christmas CD The Sounding Joy then a CD for peace and relaxation Hymns and Variations.
I’m a solo performer but I use a family of harps! Meet all seven harps!
I have had the opportunity to open at the Bluegate Theater and perform with the Elkhart County Symphony. I also enjoy playing throughout Michiana for churches, weddings, funerals, orchestras, harp ensembles, corporate and private events and monthly at several senior communities. Playing harp has introduced me to an amazing variety not just of music but of people that I am privileged to serve! I’ve ended up at Bluegrass Festivals, cathedrals, brass bands and hospital rooms. And everywhere, I’ve seen the smile I get playing the harp reflected in the faces of my audience. It really is a joy!
With the change that’s happened in 2020, I’m shifting my focus from performing full time to completing a long cherished project of publishing my original arrangements. Visit my shop to see sheet music and CDs
Anna’s latest Blog
Anna loves to tell stories! Visit her other identity, imetastory at annajoyhagen.com
