other - Deborah Henson-Conant

DEBORAH HENSON-CONANTFUSING MUSIC AND STORY ...SOLO CONCERTS • ORCHESTRA SOLOIST • ONE-WOMAN SHOWSPRESS BOOKCONTENTS:• Meet Deborah• Quotes & Reviews• Performance Descriptions• Selected Credits• Promoting Shows &Online Resources• Press Clippings• Brief Biography• Discography & PublicationsDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 1 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

“She’s doing for the harpwhat Chuck Berry and Elvisonce did for the guitar”The Denver Post“Whatever it is thattransfixes an audience,she’s got it ”The Boston GlobePHOTOS & GRAPHICS: Cover photos: Brion Price, Pg. 1: Stephanie Maillet Zand – Pg. 2: M. McDonald (Boston Globestaff photographer) – Pg. 3: Andrea Engels – Pg. 6: Jonathan Wyner – Pg. 16: Artist named “Friday”Updated 10/6/09 - Filename: DHC_Pressbook_10NWArts.inddDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 2 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

Solo Concerts • Orchestral Soloist • One-Woman ShowsMEET DEBORAH HENSON-CONANTFUSING MUSIC AND STORY ....Deborah Henson-Conant is a Grammy-Nominated,genre-bending, Blues-Flamenco-Celtic-Folk-Jazzdynamo. She plays an instrument that wasinvented specifically for her, so that she couldrealize her unique vision of solo performance;a vision that fuses music and story in everyway she can imagine.The onstage experience of Deborah bringsone of the oldest traditions – the story-tellingharper – into the unique cross-genre musicaltrajectory of the 21st-century.She’s performed in theaters, festivals and concerthalls throughout the U.S. and Europe -- andon PBS stations across the U.S. in her PublicTelevision special “Invention & Alchemy.”She’s collaborated onstage with scientists,journalists and actors in her cross-disciplineexploration series “Inviting Invention” - andwith orchestras, directors, theaters and otherartists in countless performances.She’s committed to exploring new ways tofuse music and story as a solo artist - and toreinventing the electric harp as the foremostcrossover instrument of the 21st century.Composer and musical storyteller ... singer andinstrumentalist ... inventor of a new instrumentand a new style of story-infused musicalperformance. She turns music into theater andtheater into something lyrical. See her once andyou’ll never look at the harp the same wayagain.Deborah Henson-Conant has toured with theBoston Pops, opened for Ray Charles atTanglewood, performed her solo concerts and onewomanshow from Budapest to Boston, createdher own music special “Invention & Alchemy,”which aired on PBS stations nationwide She’sbeen featured on NBC, CBS, CNN & NPR. She’sbeen interviewed by Charlie Rose, Lou Rawls,Joan Rivers, Studs Terkel, Scott Simon, BillyTaylor and Susan Stamberg.And she’s just getting started ...Deborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 3 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

QUOTES & REVIEWS“A combination of Leonard Bernstein, Steven Tyler, and Xena theWarrior Princess.” Boston Globe“Reshaping the serenely Olympian harp into a jazz instrument bywarping it closer to the blues.” New York Times“Imagine the talented love-child of André Previn and Lucille Ball.”Scott Simon, NPR Weekend Edition“Deborah’s shows are universally engaging - we often speak of it,but rare is the artist who can truly entertain, capture, and engage anaudience from 7 to 70, and everyone in between.” Keith Powell,General Manager, Hartford Symphony“…dazzling harp playing, gorgeous jazz/pop singing, comic timing andimpressive songwriting….” Austin American Statesman“The term ‘hip-harp’ doesn’t even begin to capture your uniqueapproach ...Your story telling, your ability to move smoothly fromthe blues to Jimi Hendrix style rock guitar, from traditional Celticharp music to the sweet tenderness of the Nightingale ballad, wasenchanting. And this was all done with an enormous sense oftheatricality, humor and captivating style.“ Michael Johnnes,Exec. Dir. Springfield Symphony Orch., MA“Imagine a talkative Harpo Marx in a mini-skirt and you begin toget the picture.” Cleveland Plain Dealer“... a very exuberant, highly competent artist (on many fronts)who has a real knack for captivating her audience. She gave thekids who were present (and there were more than a few), thesense, I think, that it’s okay to be unabashedly into your instrumentand free with where you take it, without copping a negative attitudeabout conventional performance approaches. ” Jim Ralph - Exec.Dir. The Shedd Institute - Eugene, OR“She may look like an angel, but she plays devilishly well.” Joan Rivers“I had my fifth exhillarating Deborah Henson-Conant experience thislast Saturday night at Tuckerman Hall! You are one of my favoriteanti-depressants.” S.S. Clinton, MA (Audience)“Calling Deborah Henson-Conant a harpist is like calling Joe DiMaggiojust a guy with a bat. Technically it’s accurate, but you’re justscratching the surface.” Grand Rapids Press“Doing for the harp what Chuck Berry and Elvis once did forthe guitar.” Denver PostAVOID EYESTRAIN: see full-size clips on following pagesDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 4 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTIONSDeborah’s shows include concert & theater options.SOLO CONCERTSThe majority of Deborah’s performances are as asolo artist. Her standard solo concert program issometimes customized for audiences and venueswhen requested.ORCHESTRA SOLOIST:She generally appears in Alternativeprogramming (“Pops” or “Family” shows) buther suite “Soñando en Español” is appropriatefor classical programming.Many of her orchestral charts are suitable forsmaller orchestras or chamber ensebles; someare suitable for University or high-level HighSchool orchestras.Standard Programs are usually billed as“Deborah Henson-Conant in Concert,” “HipHarp in Concert,” “Hi-Voltage Harp” or “Music-Story Fusion.”Seasonal & Specialty Presentations includea Holiday Show, Celtic program, family shows,and suites for both alternative and classicalprogramming.At Right:Samplesof postersfromselectedshowsONE-WOMAN SHOWSThink “Musical Theater meets One-WomanShow” to get an idea of of Deborah’s One-Woman shows which include the more informal“Stand Up & Sing, Harp Lady!”, theatricalproductiongs like “The Frog Princess” (withPlayback or Orchestra), and “In the Wings.. or What the Hell are you doing in theWaiting Room for Heaven??”EDUCATION & OUTREACHDeborah has two presentations for the GeneralPublic (“Intro to the Blues” and “Stringsof Passion”); also a week-long performanceworkshop she co-teaches wth mime-dancerKaren Montanaro (“Performance forMusicians - Inside the Music & Outsidethe Box”); and her cross-discipline series“Inviting Invention.” She also presentsmasterclasses, residencies and workshops formusicians.Deborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 5 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

SELECTED CREDITSFESTIVALS & THEATREPERFORMANCES:Boston Symphony Hall, Edinburgh FestivalFringe, Montreal Jazz Festival, Lorient CelticFestival (France), Edinburgh Folk Festival,Tanglewood, Wolf Trap, Blue Note, BottomLine, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, SalleGaveau (Paris), Alter Oper (Frankfurt),Smetena Hall (Prague), Queen’s Hall (UK),Theaterhaus (Stuttgart), Petofi Csarnok(Budapest) , St. David’s Hall (Wales)TV & RADIO FEATURES:These include her music special for PublicTV, “Invention & Alchemy” plus features onNBC Today Show , CBS Sunday Morning,CNN Entertainment News, NPR WeekendEdition & All Things Considered, BBCORCHESTRA SOLOIST:Symphonies Deborah’s soloed with include Utah,Pittsburgh, Boston Pops, Baltimore, Grand Rapids,Phoenix, San Antonio; New England StringEnsemble, Northwest Sinfonietta, Radio PragueOrchestra, Fulcrum Point EnsembleGRANTS & AWARDS:Grammy Nomination, Meet the Composer,NEA Study Grant, Cambridge Arts Council,Massachusetts Artist Composition FellowshipDeborah, Ray Charles & Seiji Ozawa backstage at Tanglewood(photo: Jonathan Wyner)CORPORATE CLIENTS:NFL, Virgin Airlines, Home Depot, BOSE Reebok,Pepsi, Avon, SteelcaseLECTURES & WORKSHOPS:Guest Lecturer at IDEAS Boston Lecture Series,Berklee School of Music (Alternative HarpTechnique), Paris Conservatory (Blues and Jazztechniques), Eastman School of Music (Blues &Jazz Techniques), BOSE Corporation (Blues asLeadership Training), Trinity College of Music(Harp Technique), Meredith Corporation (CreativityLecture)SPECIAL PROJECTS:“Invention & Alchemy” Music Special on PBS &on DVD (CD nominated for Grammy)The Frog Princess: Original fairy tale for narratorand orchestraInviting Invention: Cross-Discpline Series(Cambridge Science Festival)“In the Wings... or What the Hell are you doingin the Waiting Room for Heaven?? One-WomanMusical TheaterThe Golden Cage: A Comic OperettaThe Zero Club: A Nuclear Musical ComedyAn Evening at the Breakfast Table:One-Man Show commissioned by Harvard MedicalSchool (non-musical)Deborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 6 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

IT’S EASY TO PROMOTE DEBORAH’S SHOWSWith every booking, we provide materials to make it easy to promote Deborah’s shows.POSTERS11” x 17” vertical or horizontal, with unprintedbanner at bottom for performance info.“TRADING CARDS”2.75” x 4” double-sided “trading cards”with concertinfo are used as small flyers or handouts.POSTCARDS4” x 6” with blank backs for concert info. Whenpossible we customize postcards for each event.VIDEOB-roll on DVD available for broadcast.PRESS RELEASESSample press releases.PRESS KITSAvailable upon request.E-NEWSLETTERSMonthly E-Newsletter to Deborah’s fans withevents listings, discounts, video links, etc. goesout to Deborah’s e-mail mailing list, listing eventsand offering incentives (ex: 2 for 1 concert tickets,bonus CDs).CDS & DVDSDeborah has over a dozen CDs and one DVDin styles from straight ahead jazz (Take Five,Georgia, etc.), to Celtic, to Children’s Lullabies(see Discography), to full blown orchestralperformances.WEBSITE & ONLINE RESOURCESPRESS MATERIALSHi-Res Photos, Bios, Interview Questions, etc.PROGRAM MATERIALSProgram Descriptions, Bios & Graphics, TourSchedule, etc.STUDENT RESOURCESWorkshop Materials, Downloadable Study Materials,Study Scores & Jukeboxes, etc.FAN PAGESTour Info, Photo Galleries, Essays, Event Pages,Products, Mailing List Signup, etc.YOUTUBE LINKWebsite visitors can link direct from Deborah’shomepage to her videos on YouTubeBELOW: Images from Deborah’sDVD “Invention Alchemy”Visit Deborah’s Website:HipHarp.comDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 7 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

PRESSCLIPPINGSThe following pages give a selectionof both recent clippings and featurehighlights.ABOVE: Deborah signs autographs after a show in FranceDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 8 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

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Above: Reviewof Deborah’sOne-Woman Show“Altered Ego.”At Left: a reviewof her orchestraldebut with theBoston Popsphoto: M. McDonald (Boston Globe photo shoot)Deborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 13 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

Doc Severinsen & Henson-Conant jam in concertHarpist Deborah Henson-Conant,the guestartist, was born to entertain.She drew on anunlikely combination ofdazzling harp playing,gorgeous jazz/pop singing,comic timing andimpressive songwriting.Her program showsthat the harp is as athome with flamenco andLatin American musicas it is with Arabic andCeltic music. Henson-Conant is astonishinglydeft at imitating thosestyles with orchestrationsthat are as fresh andexuberant as her stagepersonality. The onlymaterial that wasn’t allher own was a charmingmedley of tunes from“The Wizard of Oz.”She can do somethingyou don’t expect at apops concert, and thatis touch you. In thiscase, with the endearing“Nightingale,” writtenfor her mother.REVIEWEXCERPTSphotos this page: Stephen PowellDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 14 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

DEBORAH HENSON-CONANTA BRIEF BIOGRAPHY ...She strides on stage with theenergy of a rock star and pulls asoulful, electrifying power-chordfrom ... her harp.If you think the harp isn’t “that”kind of instrument, it wasn’t. Notuntil Deborah Henson-Conantgot her hands on it - literally -and convinced European buildersto invent a harp she could strapon and play like an electricguitar.Now this Grammy-Nominatedartist takes center stage, hermulti-colored braids flying, andplays in styles from Flamencoto Blues, with a theatricalsinging voice and a narrative ofstorytelling and humor. But itwasn’t always like that...Deborah Henson-Conant startedimprovising stories with musicon her grandmother’s pianowhen she was three, but refusedpoint blank to take lessons. Herparents tried every instrumentthey could think of - even theharp - but it wasn’t until yearslater, when her college bandneeded a harpist that she agreedto give the 47-string monsteranother go.She paid her way through U.C.Berkeley’s music program byplaying in cocktail lounges, thenheaded to NYC with hopes oftaking her original musicals toBroadway. Still playing “for yourdining pleasure” to pay the bills,she got the courage one night todrag her harp from the diningroom to the jazz lounge, said“mind if I sit in?” -- and promptlyfell in love with jazz, blues andimprovisation.She swapped her cocktail dressesfor cowboy boots and boustiers,formed the Jazz Harp Trio, won aBoston Music Award, a NationalEndowment for the Arts grant tostudy jazz, and poured herselfinto jazz. Charlie Rose heardabout her, asked her on his show,and a week later the presidentof GRP records called offering arecording contract -- and within ayear she was the world’s foremostjazz-harp player, lugging her 75lbharp around the globe.An invitation to Edinburgh toteach the fundamentals of Bluesintroduced her to the concertharp’s smaller cousin: the Celticharp. Struck by its portability andexcited about its potential forBlues and Rock, she envisionedan electric, strap-on Celtic- harpas the crossover instrument of the21st century -- and in the mid-90’s she began a collaborationwith Europe’s top harp-builderthat led to the development ofthe first commercially-availablecarbon-fibre electric strap-onharp, now named for Henson-Conant: “DHC Blue-Lite.”Long considered the renegade ofthe harp world, Deborah discoveredthat once she strapped on herharp, she became part of one ofthe oldest musical traditions: thesinging, storytelling bard -- butwith an upbeat, electric twist.I n t h e l a t e 9 0 ’s , w h e n t h eBoston Pops asked for Deborahas a soloist, she agreed on thecondition that she get to writeand arrange the orchestral charts.Rave reviews of that debut ledto more orchestral appearances,and to Henson-Conant’s creationof the largest body of musicfor contemporary harp soloistand orchestra in the world,and culminated in the 3-year“Invention & Alchemy” project(2005-2007) which netted hera Grammy Nomination and PBSBroadcasts around the country.She’s now created nearly a dozendifferent orchestral shows.In 2008 Henson-Conant finallyfused her passion to write musicaltheater with her success as aperformer, in the debut of heroriginal One-Woman Musical“What the Hell are you doing inthe Waiting Room for Heaven??”(retitled “In the Wings” in2009) which debuted at thenew Central Square Theater inCambridge, MA.Throughout 2009 she updatedand expanded the show andit’s currently in developmentthrough Boston’s “New Operaand Musical Theater Initiative,”with an eye towards Broadway.2010 is an important year forDeborah as a composer. Asher solo and orchestral worksare becoming more widelyprogrammed by harpists inEurope, South America andAsia, 2010 marks the publicrelease date for a series of herChamber Ensemble works at theInternational Harp Festival inCaernarfon, Wales.S p o n s o r e d b y t h e C A M A CHarp company, this event isan important milestone in hergoal as a performing composer:to create a body of work thatexpands the world’s repertoire ofconcert works for electric harp.“When I began, over 30 yearsago - not only did my instrumentnot exist, but there were so fewexciting concert pieces availablefor any kind of harp. Thatmeant that, compared to otherinstrumentalists, the careers ofeven the world’s greatest harpistswere severely limited by the lackof repertoire! As a composer Iknew I could do something aboutthat. Since I first started writingfor harp in my early 20’s, I wasdetermined to create excitingmusic to expand the visibility ofthis widely misunderstood anddeeply expressive instrument.“And while I was at it, I figured Imight as well get out there andplay the music, too.”Deborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 15 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com

DISCOGRAPHYDHC on-disc inludes projects that are entirely music (nostories) to discs that are primarily story (music supportsthe spoken word). Discs available through Amazon,iTunes, Retail Stores, Deborah’s website (HipHarp.com)and at most live performances.LIVE DVDINVENTION & ALCHEMY: As seen on PBS stationsnationwide, Deborah’s original live music-theaterperformance with the Grand Rapids Symphony, andconductor David Lockington on DVD. All original music& stories. DVD includes special features and behind-thescenesfeature (Golden Cage Music ‘06)CDSInvention & Alchemy - Solo Project with Orchestra–Grammy-Nominated companion CD in the DVD/CDproject (see above). (Golden Cage Music ‘06)Artist’s Proof - Solo Project – Original singer-songwriterpieces for harp, voice and various other instruments.(Golden Cage Music ‘03 / ‘04)Live Wires - Collaborative Duo Project with LivingstonTaylor (BOSE ‘00 - Out of Print) The Frog Princess- Solo Project - Original Story with Music - narrated &sung. (Golden Cage Music ‘00)Altered Ego - Solo Project - Studio recording of the mostrequestedtunes from Deborah’s solo shows (GoldenCage Music ‘98)Congratulations Card - Solo Project - CD Single /Greeting Card (97)The Celtic Album - Solo Project - A blend of traditionalCeltic tunes with a DHC twists. Mostly harp, but alsosome flute & synth (Golden Cage Music ‘98)Just for You - Trio Project - Live on Tour - Original jazzwith harp, electric bass, percussion and vocals (LaikaRecords ‘94)The Gift - Solo Project - Holiday Music - Solo harpfantasies on traditional carols from around the world(Golden Cage Music ’96)‘Round the Corner - Trio Project - Jazz standards forharp, bass & drums. (Golden Cage Music ‘87/re-releasedon CD ‘94)Budapest - Solo Project (with backup) (Out of Print) (‘93)Talking Hands - Solo Project (with backup) - ContemporaryJazz (GRP Records - Out of Print) (‘91)Caught in the Act - Solo Project (with backup) -Contemporary Jazz (GRP Records - Out of Print) (‘90)On the Rise - Solo Project (with backup) - ContemporaryJazz (GRP Records - Out of Print) (‘89)Songs My Mother Sang - Solo Project - Lullabies andsongs for children with voice and solo harp - includes& Illustrated Song Booklet. (Golden Cage Music ‘83/rereleased on CD ‘99)PUBLICATIONS:Sheet Music for HarpBaroque Flamenco - Harp Solo - Manuscript and playingguidelinesThe Nightingale - Harp Solo / Harp & VoiceNataliana - Harp Solo - Fantasy for solo harpNew Blues - Harp Solo - Bebop Blues for solo harpOff She Goes & She’s Gone - Harp EnsembleFür Elise - Harp Solo for concert harpDanny Boy - Harp Solo for concert harpWedding Tunes - Harp Solo - Classic wedding processionalsand recessionals including expandable musical segmentsfor the ceremonies that just don’t know when to startSHEET MUSIC FOR PIANO/VOCALCongratulations, You Made it this Far - Piano/VocalSheet-Music & CD - for Deborah’s alternative to the “HappyBirthday” songMUSIC WITH PLAY-ALONG CDIntro to Improv - An introduction to improvisationtechniques using repeatable accompaniment phrasesknown as “vamps” - with a playalong CDINFORMATIONALGurl’s Guide to Amplification - Basic amplificationtechniques explained in plain EnglishVisit Deborah’s Website:HipHarp.comDeborah Henson-Conant • HipHarp.com • pg. 16 • SKYLINE MUSIC • SkylineOnline.com