About Stacy K Davis
I "discovered" the harp on my 15th birthday, when I saw a harpist playing in a restaurant lobby. When I saw and heard it, I immediately knew I had to learn to play the harp !
Since my grandmother was a music teacher, I had learned to read music before I started school. As a child, I played the piano and sang, then learned to play flute as a teenager. Rosalind Beck (of the Florida Symphony Orchestra and Orlando Philharmonic) was my harp teacher throughout high school and while at the University of Central Florida. In college, I studied violin and recorder, and taught myself to play the psaltery (a bowed string instrument used in the middle ages). Music and the performing arts are integral to my life, as is spirituality and education. Since college, I have taken many classes and seminars from nationally-renowned harpists, including several regarding the relationship of music to healing. I often play harp at my church for half an hour of healing meditation, then play the piano during our regular services. I am a member of the American Harp society (including the local chapter), the Historical Harp Society, and the International Society for Folk Harpers and Craftsmen.While the majority of my work as a harpist may have been weddings, my experiences over the past 25 years have been quite diverse. I have performed alone and with other musicians, in sacred spaces and gardens, at joyous and somber occasions, accompanied dance and theatre, played indoors and outdoors, for large and small audiences, and at Medieval / Renaissance / Fantasy themed events in costume.
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Performance Notes:
I have participated in services at churches and temples of many denominations. This includes accompaniment of choirs, participation with bands and ensembles, and solo harp performance. During the Christmas and Easter seasons, I have accompanied Cantatas; I also provided music for a Bat Mitzvah.
At the Annual Convention of my national church organization, I play the harp for half an hour of healing during the church service every night for a week. I have also performed at the Healing Temple in Lily Dale, New York - a Spiritualist retreat camp.
I have played for funeral and memorial services - providing comforting background music, harp solos, and leading the singing.
During the Xmas holidays, I provided accompaniment for a "Madrigal feast" at Patrick Air Force Base, and performed at Valencia College for their "Christmas Carol" madrigal presentation. I also performed solo and with other musicians at the Christmas Gala for the Russian Ballet of Orlando.
Over the years, I have accompanied several fashion shows of various types, including bridal wear, and a Medieval / Renaissance fashion show at the Orlando Public Library.
I played "Pachelbels' Canon" for the instructor's spotlight dance during my daughters' ballet recital.
One summer, I accompanied ballet classes at Florida Citrus Sports Camp. I took my lever harp one day, and my pedal harp another day. I explained the technical differences between them, how they are made, and the history of the harp. The dancers asked very thoughtful questions. After class, each student had an opportunity to touch the harp and pluck the strings.
My Orchestral experience includes student performances with the Florida Symphony youth Orchestra, the UCF Symphony Orchestra, and occasionally as second harp with the Florida Symphony Orchestra. I also played back-up for Melissa Manchester when she was in Orlando.
In addition to live Orchestra performances, I appeared with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra on our local PBS station. Rosalind Beck and I were featured on a local PBS show entitled "POSTSCRIPTS".
For several years, I performed with a harp ensemble organized through the Central Florida chapter of the American Harp Society. We played for various social events, with as few as 3 harps and as many as 21 harps, including many Christmas concerts.
