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Deborah Henson-Conant
SAT. JAN. 15 - 7 PM
McPherson Opera House

221 S. Main St. - McPherson, KS 67460
Tickets: $30, $27 & $24 Students: $10
(620) 241-1952


ABOUT THE SHOW:

This is not your grandmother's harp!

Deborah Henson-Conant is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, and the world premiere electric harpist. Together with the CAMAC Harp company, she developed the world's first comercially-produced carbon fibre electric harp -- the DHC Blue-Light, named for her.

She plays music from Blues to Flamenco, she sings and she talks to the audience.

"Dazzling harp playing, gorgeous jazz/pop singing, comic timing and impressive songwriting" Austin-American Statesman

She dresses like a showgirl, plays the pants off the harp and tells tall tales with the ease of a stand-up comic. Imagine a talkative Harpo Marx in a mini-skirt and you begin to get the picture” Cleveland Plain Dealer

Henson-Conant combines music, theater and spoken word. To get an idea of the kind of playing that will be featured on her show check out these YouTube videos:

Dance with Me
Beck's Blues
The Nightingale

STUDENTS

There are many ways to be creative. To be heard. You don’t have to go the standard route.

Come see this Grammy-Nominated artist, who’s taken an unlikely instrument and turned it into the story of her life. Come see what’s possible if you follow your own personal passion ... because you can create a life in music and theater ... no matter what you start with!

Call the Opera House Direct for student tix (they're not available from the online ticket page): (620) 241-1952 (ext. 1)

COME TO THE SHOW!

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Press Release

WHO: Grammy Nominated Recording Artist & Electric Harpist: Deborah Henson-Conant

WHAT: Electric Harp! A concert of new symphonic adventures with electric harpist & vocalist Deborah Henson-Conant

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at 7pm

WHERE: The McPherson Opera House, 221 S. Main St. - McPherson, KS 67460.

TIX: $30, $27, $24, students $10. Order by phone at 620-241-1952.,
online http://www.mcphersonoperahouse.org/index.html

MORE INFO / TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEW: Beatriz Harley: 781-483-3556 info@HipHarp.com

ARTIST WEBSITE: http://www.HipHarp.com

HI-RES IMAGES: http://www.hipharp.com/pressphotos.html


About the Show & the Instrument

There’s a new breakthrough technology coming to The McPherson Opera House this January. Like many successful hardware devices, this one’s built to interface with the human hand. Likewise, the newest version is both smaller and more powerful than previous models. But it’s not an iPhone, an iPod or even an iPad. It’s a harp.

Grammy nominated composer, vocalist and harpist Deborah Henson-Conant is the world’s premiere electric harpist, and she’s been so instrumental in the development of this new hybrid that the latest model on the international scene, designed in France by CAMAC, is named after her: The “DHC-Blue-Light.”

“ It’s taken nearly two decades to develop this instrument,” says Henson-Conant, who will feature the harness-able carbon-fibre instrument at the solo show Sat. Nov. 6th at the Regent. “My concept was to take everything great about the concert harp and put it in an interface that’s more like electric guitar. The instrument was developed specifically for my performances - shows that combine theater, music, movement and stories – a kind of high-energy solo Nouvelle-Cabaret that requires a lot of physical freedom, and a sound that can range convincingly from ethereal ballads to all-out distorted blues.”

Henson-Conant also uses a loop-pedal which lets her orchestrate layered accompaniments on the fly. “With these two instruments – the harp and the looper -- I can create the impression of a full ensemble – but because I’m solo, I’m completely free o respond artistically, to change the show spontaneously. And because of the harp’s size and weight, only 11 pounds, I can move around the stage freely”

Henson-Conant won a Grammy Nomination for her 2006 Classical Crossover project "Invention & Alchemy" which appeared on PBS stations throughout the US. She'll be performing pieces from that CD/DVD along with other material.

All her shows are suitable for all ages.


Artist Bio
Deborah Henson-Conant is a Grammy-Nominated composer-performer and the world’s premiere electric harpist.? She sings, plays and tells stories in Nouvelle- Cabaret shows that combine styles from Flamenco to Blues.? She’s toured internationally, debuted with the Boston Pops, opened for Ray Charles at Tanglewood, jammed onstage with Bobby McFerrin and offstage with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and starred in her own music special on PBS, “Invention & Alchemy.” She's been featured on shows from CBS’ “Sunday Morning” and NBC’s “Today Show” to NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” and interviewed by hosts and journalists from Scott Simon, Susan Stamberg and Studs Terkel to Charlie Rose and Joan Rivers.

Press Quotes

“ ... dazzling harp playing, gorgeous jazz/pop singing, comic timing and impressive songwriting” Austin American-Statesman
“ Striking flamenco sparks from the strings … wrenching distorted bends worthy of Eddie Van Halen … belting gutbucket blues and crooning lullabies … the intense focus commanded by a master storyteller.” Springfield Union-News


ARTIST WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA:
• Website: http://www.HipHarp.com
• Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/HipHarp
• Blog: http://hipharp.wordpress.com/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/HipHarpist
• YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/HipHarpist
 
For more artist info or to schedule an interview, contact: 

Beatriz Harley, info@HipHarp.com, 781-483-3556
More Info: http://www.hipharp.com/publicity.html
Hi-Res Images: http://www.hipharp.com/pressphotos.html

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