Fifth-grader Jake Woodward may not remember repeatedly asking his mother to find a harp instructor, but she insists he did.
“For about a year, Jake was asking if he could play the harp and we just ignored him,” Teresa Woodward said. “But when we moved here from Philadelphia part of our promise when we moved here was if you move to Seattle with us we’ll get you harp lessons.”
It took two months in their home at Lake Forest Park but Jake, 11, finally got the lessons he wanted from harp performer and instructor Leslie McMichael.
“Playing the harp is usually something the child has come up with,” McMichael said.
Jake has been happily plucking away for three years now, attending a harp camp over the summer and participating as the only harpist in Villa Academy’s string group. At 7:30 p.m. today, April 6, he will be one of 20 young harpists to play a benefit concert, “From Bach to Rock,” at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle.
“This concert is thrilling for us because it’s in a real theater and it’s for a wonderful cause,” said McMichael, who organized the concert to showcase her students’ talents. “I suggested the idea of a charity concert because if we were going to rent a hall we could use the music to accomplish something of tangible good. Students submitted suggestions, everyone got to vote and YouthCare was the result.”
YouthCare is a community agency helping homeless and at-risk youth in greater Seattle. Because harpists’ families helped finance the renting of the 285-seat Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, all ticket sales will go directly to YouthCare.
Pachelbel’s Canon, Do Re Mi and Edelweiss are only some of the songs that will be performed by harpists ranging in age from 8 to 18 years old. A surprise rock song is also on the concert schedule.
“I guess the point of (the rock song) is to let people know that the harp is not only capable of one type of music,” McMichael said.
Jake said the older harpists inspire him to keep playing and although he’s quite content practicing one of his favorites, Edelweiss, he’s looking forward to getting to the point of playing some of the pieces more experienced harpists can play.
Jake owns his lever harp and thinks he will play harp for a long time, but maybe not once he’s in college. With practicing drama, playing harp and piano and actively participating in a variety of sports, he’s already busy.
“Maybe I’ll be a teacher, a harpist or a librarian,” Jake said when asked what he wants to do when he’s older. “Or maybe a librarian that teaches harp.”
The benefit called “a concert by youth, for youth” also will feature choreography by guest artists from Kaleidoscope Dance Company. Tickets are available at the door for a donation of $10 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors.
The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is located at 104 17th Ave. S. in Seattle.
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