A bit of history
Initiated by Dianne Connelly, Robin Grenon, Gisèle Guibord and Catherine Thompson, Harpissimo Québec was founded in the fall of 1996. As of October 29 of the same year, the association became an affiliated member of the International Society of Folk Harpers and Crafstmen whose headquarters are in California (ISFHC). This association was founded in 1985 and has a world-wide membership of more than 2,000. Shortly after, Harpissimo Québec began publishing a quarterly newsletter for its members and has continued since then.
To promote the harp and to offer its members the opportunity to enrich their repertoire for this traditional instrument, harp circles were a monthly meeting. Since 2002, a series of workshops have been added to introduce members to the Celtic and Latin repertoires as well as Renaissance music and the Cantigas de Santa Maria. Other topics have included technique, accompaniment, harp maintenance, music and harp therapy, storytelling with music, and the history of the harp.
Venues for workshops have included private homes, an orchard, a British fort built in 1824, a medicinal herb garden, an artist’s studio, a historic house of Montreal’s “Golden Mile”, a Japanese garden, a pine grove, a heritage church and even a farm!
Mission
Harpissimo Québec’s mission is to Instruct, to promote, to favour and to develop the interest of its members and of the public in general for the traditional harp as a living traditional culture.
Board of directors
The board of directors is composed of four members elected at the annual general meeting. The mandate lasts one year.
President Robert Ménard
Vice President Suzanne Vézina
Secretary Annabelle Renzo
Treasory Monique Frontain
Musical Director Robin Grenon
