Picture in concert the visual intrigue and beauty of a 40 string, five foot tall cherry wood harp, the engaging, informative and amusing banter of the harpist and the stunning, virtuostic and glorious sounds from the fingers of harpist Sharlene Wallace. An absolute sensory extravaganza.

"The harp has a healthy future in contemporary music thanks to performers like Toronto virtuoso Sharlene Wallace . . .harp talents don't come much more highly recommended. Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal

Sharlene studied with Classical harpist Judy Loman at the University of Toronto (BacMus Perf 1986). In 1990 Sharlene made the leap from the 47 string Classical harp to the rather more portable! lever (popularly known as the Celtic) harp. Sharlene has worked extensively with the American Celtic harpist Kim Robertson and the South American harpists Alfredo Rolando Ortiz and Eralio Gill. The Latin influence has been an integral and distinguishing element of Wallace's work. Furthermore, Sharlene's passion for contemporary new music has resulted in a fascinating collaboration with Montreal harpsichordist vivi vicente. .Two new works have been written this past year for the duo: one by John Beckwith (premiered in May 1999) and the other by Bruce Mather to be premiered and recorded in Montreal in May 2000.

In 1995 Sharlene won First Place at the Lyon & Healy International Pop & Jazz Lever Harp Competition in Tucson, Arizona. Following this achievement, she placed First at the Concours d’lmprovisation de Rencontres Internationales de Harpe Celtique in Dinan, France.

Sharlene has created two independent CD's. the rhyme & the river (1996) was praised in the Toronto Star for eloquent music, expressive . . . exotic". Journey of Shadows followed in 1998, an album that explores a winter sentiment and elaborates on the amalgam of original, Celtic and South American influences explored on the rhyme & the river.

From these CDs , three of Sharlene's original compositions have been arranged for lever harp and orchestra which were performed this past October along with "Suite for (pedal) Harp and Orchestra" by Canadian composer Harry Somers.

Journey of Shadows
CD $15.00 ON SALE AGAIN SEPTEMEBER 8, 2003

1. Still Life: In the Silence
2. Una vez en la montaña
3. Still Life: Night Rhythms
4. Winter Dance: ‘Twas in the moon of Wintertime, Danse, Nöel nouvelet
5. Milonga para amor
6. Winter Still
7. Cold Frosty Morning
8. Winter Frieze
9. In the Bleak Midwinter
10. Ice Lake
11. Still Life: Bound Branches
12. Sleep Soon i’da Mornin’
13. Journey of Shadows
14. Mountain House .

the rhyme and the river
CD $15.00 ON SALE AGAIN SEPTEMEBER 8, 2003

1. Rêverie
2. Air
3. Paddy Fahy’s Jig
4. Llana
5. Faythe
6. Eleanor Plunkett
7. Moving Cloud
8. Winter Frieze
9. Ice Lake
10. Dream Habanera
11. Song of the Chanter / Ryan’s Rant
12. The Rhyme and the River
13. Prelude Intime No. 1
14. Faraway Places
15. La Guabina
16. I Wonder as I Wander
17. Dance Fanny Power, Dance
18. Trembling Angels

Visit Sharlene's website