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Harpers Hall makes its home in the San Francisco South Bay Area and Central California Coast. Our purpose is to promote an appreciation of the folk harp, to cultivate its living musical tradition, and to preserve the fun and magic of the harp for members and for the general public. To that end, we hold numerous events throughout the year, from harp jams to house concerts, festival performances to yearly weekend retreats. Journey through Harpers Hall to discover an enchanting world of harpers and learn their songs and their stories. Here you will meet many of the revelers, see the various lands they travel to, and find out how to join.

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Harpers Hall Calendar

Last update: January 11, 2025

Details of these events and gatherings (including address and phone numbers of gathering locations) are published in the Harpers Hall newsletter, The Reel Fling. Yearly subscription includes the newsletters and much more. Join us in the enchanting world of harps.

Most of our gatherings are on the third Sunday of the month. Exceptions are noted in red.

We have some dates set for 2025 but are working on finding hosts and workshops for many of these months. Harpers Hall members, please contact Verlene if you are willing to host or lead a workshop!

2025 January | February |March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |

January 2025

  • 19th 1:30 - 6 pm Gathering at Calli Morrow's home in Portola Valley (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
    • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: "Harps from Mesopotamia to China (With excursions to Africa and across Europe if time permits)" by Cathleen O'Connell. Cathleen has collected some interesting photos and lore of and about harps in her travels around the world, and some interesting lyres and zithers, too. Come see harps from Georgia (the country), Uzbekistan, China, Africa, Egypt, Europe, Mesopotamia, and maybe a few other places.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
    • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire, or do an improv circle!

    February

  • No monthly gathering -- come to our retreat instead!
  • 20th - 23rd from 3:00 Thursday through 11 am Sunday Harpers Hall Retreat-from-the-World. Join Harpers Hall and find more information in our Harpers Hall newsletter and groups.io.

    • March

  • 16th 1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering Val Wann's home in Concord. (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
    • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
    • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire or do an improv circle!

  • 27st 1:30 - 6:00 pm Note: changed to the 4th Sunday to avoid Easter Gathering at Laurann's home in Campbell (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
    • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: "Small Harp Arranging" by Jacqueline Lynaugh. An introduction to the alternative fingerings Jacqueline uses to create instant arrangements on small harps.
    • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
    • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in-progress.
    • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire or do an improv circle!

    May

    July

  • 20th 4:00 - 8:00 pm Annual Barbecue the Holsinger's home in Mt. View. No workshop, and no zoom for this one.
    •

    August

  • 17th 1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering at Verlene Schermer's home in San Jose. (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
  • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: topic TBA by Verlene Schermer
  • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
  • 4:00 - 4:30 works-in-progress. (shorter so we have more time for our Pleasanton rehearsal)
  • 4:30 - 6:00 rehearsal of the games repertoire in preparation for the Pleasanton Scottish Games. Check your August Fling for set list.
  • 30th Pleasanton Scottish Gathering & Games, Alameda County Fairground, The Harpers Hall Ensemble will be playing on stage in the Celtic Heritage area Times TBA. The group will also have a booth in the area where you can try out harps, ask questions, find a teacher, or just hang out with the harpers!

      September
    • 21at1:30 - 6:00 pm Gathering at Dell Petersen's home in Fremont. (Check groups.io calendar or email Dell for zoom info).
      • Workshop from 2:00 - 3:00: "Jane Austen and her music" by Sandra Fromm. Learn a few tunes from the music books of Jane Austen, quite a few of which were Scottish. We'll learn a couple of tunes that were handwritten by Jane, along with a couple that are included in the overall music collection held at Chawton House.
      • 3:00 - 4:00 (approximately) share food and visit.
      • 4:00 - 5:00 works-in progress.
      • 5:00 - 6:00 Play Games repertoire or do an improv circle!

      October

      December

    • 7th 4:00 - 8:00 pm Yule Party at Verlene Schermer's home in San Jose. No workshop, and no zoom for this one.


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    email: info@verlene.com

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