Innovative harpist duo to perform free concert at Monroe Township High School Richard P. Marasco Center for Performing Arts.
By: Melissa Hayes
MONROE In celebration of the new year, the Cultural Arts Commission is sponsoring "Harps Afire," a free event featuring two professional concert harpists.
"It’s very unusual to have a free concert of this magnitude, so it’s kind of welcoming the new year," said Nancie Gunkelman, a member of the commission. "You usually do not hear a concert all of harp music.
"Some people consider it dueling harps because they’re playing back and forth and together," she said.
The concert is scheduled for Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Monroe Township High School Richard P. Marasco Center for Performing Arts.
"We do not require tickets, no advanced reservations, first come first served," she said.
Harpists Alison Simpson and Virginia Flanagan have combined their talents and will be performing together. They released a CD last year titled "Harps Afire."
Ms. Simpson is a conservatory-trained harpist, Ms. Gunkelman said. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Philadelphia Academy of Music. She is also a frequent entertainer on the luxury liner Queen Elizabeth 2. Ms. Simpson also teaches at the Westminster Conservatory in Princeton in addition to having a private studio. She serves as the president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Harp Society.
Ms. Flanagan has a strong piano background, Ms. Gunkelman said. She has played at Tanglewood Institute and toured with the MIT Symphony. She has performed with area orchestras, chamber ensembles and music galas as a featured artist. Ms. Flanagan also teaches privately.
"I know our community here is very fond of good quality musicianship, and this is very unique," Ms. Gunkelman said. "It’s just a full, beautiful string sound."
The Cultural Arts Commission has several events each month for the public.
In December, Theaterworks USA presented "First in Flight: The Wright Brothers."
Ms. Gunkelman said the performance was a musical about the relationship between the Wright brothers and their development of the first airplane.
Ms. Gunkelman said they also added a unique feature to the performance.
"We had brought in a sign language interpreter that signed all of the dialogue. She had come all the way from Maryland. She did this on a voluntary basis. She was such a good sport. She just did such a good job," she said.
Ryamm Astrov is a sign language interpreter and sign language translator in Maryland and the Washington DC area. This was the first time she translated a musical, Ms. Gunkelman said.
"She was as much fun to watch as the people on stage," Ms. Gunkelman said. "It was very artistically done it was like watching a beautiful dance."
On Feb. 24 the commission is hosting "Beatlemania Now." A Beatles tribute show that traces the Beatles career from their 1964 United States debut to the finale of "Let It Be" in 1970.
The event is being held in the Richard P. Marasco Center for the Performing Arts. General admission tickets are $12, patron tickets are $10 and students are free. For tickets and more information call (732) 521-4400, ext. 134.

