Every Saturday I focus on a different artist that I admire. From potters to painters, chefs to collectors, seamstress to songwriters, lifestyle to lovers… anyone who set the paintbrush, pastry brush, hands and heart on fire to create.
Those who inspire art to flow where it may.
Amy Kortuem grew up in rural Mankato, Minnesota, and began classical piano training when she was 11 years old. In 1988, Amy received a Celtic harp as a gift from a family friend, an Irishman named Jack McGowan.
It was a gift that changed her life. Bringing the beautiful music of her harp to as many people as possible has become her passion and purpose.
That gift has also become a thriving business. With four recordings, a music video, a rich performance history and schedule to her credit.
Amy's playing is in high demand.
Photo Source for all photos of Amy Kortuem.
Amy is known for performing at a wide variety of events and also for varied audiences, from preschool children, to outdoor festival-goers, to dignitaries like Mikhail Gorbachev.
Amy has been awarded two Prairie Lakes Arts Council Individual Artist Grants, a Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Artist Fellowship Grant and a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant to further her music studies and career.
Here are a few of Amy's pieces to listen to:
A wonder as I wander. A Traditional Appalachian
What child is this. and The Holly and the Ivy, Traditional English.
A few years ago Amy sent me some of her CDs, I am listening to her beautiful music as I type.
A harp has a serious personality compared to a steel guitar or the bango… Yet knowing Amy through blogging, I feel that the harp is her rock, if an instrument could be a soul mate, than the harp is Amy's. With that said Amy's personality which combines the steel guitar and bango, fun, sexy, lively, with a beat that is home grown that is Amy… Rock on with that Harp dear Amy!
A glorious combination!
Amy's humor an incerpt from her blog:
How a harp is like a Harley
~ They both make that sound you'd recognize with your eyes closed."
Amy's birthday was a few days ago… Happy Birthday Amy!
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Regarding performances, or purchasing music,
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