| Evo
schedules 1 unit Extended Education autoharp
class at CSU, Fresno
(Oct. 3-4 weekend) and Dusty
Strings workshop in Seattle Oct. 18!
The first Sparrowharp
(a 3/4 sized fully functional autoharp) was purchased by Taeko Ikegaya
in Japan. Here she is at a Japanese bluegrass festival with another
harper.
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Do
you have personal stories. jpgs, or comments about your Evoharp
or Sparrowharp? Please
send
them.
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Evo's
newest autoharp CD
Prompted
by the response to the recording of Kilby Snow's "Troubles"
on the Autoharp Legacy CD, which featured Nashville Bluegrass Band's
Stuart Duncan and producer Mark Howard, Evo Bluestein released a
new CD. The
cd features a number of guest musicians including The Bluestein
Family Band (siblings: Joel, Jemmy & Frayda), Stuart Duncan,
Randy Kohrs, Dave Leddel, Hannsjoerg Scheid and Joe Craven. To order
Evo's first autoharp CD, please go here.
Kids' cd features Evo's students. It includes many well-known
folk songs that children today often never hear anymore, as well as
some oldtime dance tunes and songs.
Congratulations
to Mendodta fifth grade autoharper Karina Lua, who received
a 15-bar Evoharp from donor Patty Silva. Thanks Patty! Karina has
been taking autoharp with Miss Darden at McCabe Elementary School.
Donate your old harp to a child.
(photo: Marc Blake)
Finally! Due to popular
demand, your Evoharp may have fine tuners. Additional cost: $225.
This Evoharp, played
in the Broadway show Ring of Fire,
has a redwood top and walnut back.
Praise
for the Evoharp
Read an article
about this harp
21-bar chromatic
Diatonic 15-bar DG or FC
Lap Evoharp
Hymnal
Evoharp (flat keys)
Korg
ca-30 electronic tuner, $30
T-handle tuning wrench, $20
"Zulu's
Choice"
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Evoharp
News
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Evo Bluestein inducted
into the Autoharp
Hall of Fame! (6/27/09) Read Proclamation
and acceptance speech.
The next California Autoharp Gathering
is scheduled
May 21–23, 2010 in Dunlap, California after a the 2009
event was cancelled due to state budget crisis.
Evo had the honor of restoring Kilby
Snow's Autoharp. It was on display at 2006
California Autoharp Gathering.
Evo plays Kilby
Snow's harp before it goes on display.
Congratulations
to Heidi Cerrigione who took 2nd place in the Winfield
International Autoharp Championship and won a 21-bar Evoharp
(Sept. 06).
Evoharp Luthier Jim Woods with Heidi.
At
the 2007 CAG Evo was also the recipient of a CAG Lifetime
Acheivement Award! The
plaque reads:
This award is presented to Evo Bluestein in recognition of
his dedication and commitment to the autoharp and his consummate
skill as a teacher and performer of traditional music and
dance.
This award honors Evo Bluestein's exceptional talents as a
solo artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and creator
of outstanding autoharp music. Further, this award recognizes
his contribution to the autoharp family of instruments - the
Evoharp™.
Thousands of people, throughout the world, have greatly benefited
from Evo Bluestein's rare talents and his deep knowledge of
world folk music. He continues to create a lasting legacy,
respected by all who have received his gifts.
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Phone
Orders or Questions
(559) 297-8966
Call for shipping options
Feels like
an "A model",
plays like a custom harp
June
17, 2008: Capitol Rally in Sacramento for arts in schools!
Evo called some dances and lead some kids on autoharp.
In December 2007 and March 2008, McKinnon School in Salinas, CA
received two
weeks of an autoharp Evo Bluestein music residency taught by Evo
Bluestein.
The school has purchased twenty Sparrowharps for this program.
see more pictures
Evo
received Fresno Arts Council grants two years in a row to teach
music and dance in schools using the Evoharp (06–08).
Fresno Unified Migrant Education purchased 20 Evoharps and Evo's
instruction books.
Listen to a song from the 3rd
Gene Bluestein Memorial Concert, Friday, October 6, 2006 at Fresno's
Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts.The concert featured the
Bluestein Family, Joel, Evo, Jemmy and Frayda.
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Singer
Janis Ian
purchased
an Evoharp for a CD project.
Janis
Ian with her Evoharp
Donate
your neglected harp to kids!
2009
Autoharp Hall of Fame Proclamation
Whereas:
At the age of eighteen, and a member of the musical Bluestein Family,
when asked by his father, Gene, to learn the autoharp he turned to
a solid mentor, Kilby Snow, and mastered his distinctive "drag
note," and became one of the finest "Snow-style" autoharp
players ever; and
Whereas:
His dedication to teaching the autoharp to young children is demonstrated
by his career-long commitment to presenting workshops in schools with
the autoharp as the foundation instrument and mentoring classroom
teachers using the autoharp with their students; and
Whereas:
His recordings have featured the autoharp since the 1970s, first with
the Bluestein Family and later as a soloist, and have showcased outstanding
examples of the diversity of the autoharp. Evo is included in the
"Autoharp Legacy" CD project with his recording of "Troubles,"
a version originally done by Kilby Snow; and
Whereas:
He was a co-founder of the California Autoharp
Gathering, further contributing to the promotion of the autoharp;
and
Whereas:
He became one of the foremost authorities in the Unites States in
restoring Oscar Schmidt Model "A" autoharps; and
Whereas:
Because of his appreciation of the construction, design, and sound
of the Oscar Schmidt Model "A" autoharp, he designed and
markets his "Evoharp" and "Sparrowharp," incorporating
the best features of the Model "A"; and
Whereas:
He has featured the autoharp in performances at festivals and events
worldwide for over 30 years,
Therefore,
let it be resolved that Evo Bluestein be inducted with highest commendations
as the 2009 contemporary member of The Autoharp Hall of Fame.
So it is proclaimed this Twenty-Seventh day of June in the year Two
Thousand and Nine.
Evo's
Acceptance speech, read in absentia by Gregg Averett, at the 2009
Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering Awards Ceremony
Dear Mountain
Laurel Autoharp Gathering,
I apologize for not joining to revel in autoharpoholism with fellow
addicts and for not appearing in person to accept this wonderful proclamation.
It is certainly a most treasured honor for me to be joining such distinguished
autoharp luminaries, both living and passed, in the Autoharp Hall
of Fame.
I grew up hearing my father and a few others, play “A” model
O.S. harps, including Kathy & Carol, and Mike Seeger. Later, Kilby
Snow's music impressed and inspired me.
Tom Fladmark, Jim Woods and Pete Daigle helped me develop the Evoharp
and Sparrowharp.
Mike Mueller helped me bring my music teaching skills to many young
people in Central California Schools through migrant education.
I'm proud to be part of the autoharp community.
Thank you for this honor!
Evo Bluestein
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Evo's student
Dylan Healy made the cover of Autoharp Quarterly (winter 08),
along with her new Sparrowharp. |
Migrant Scholars
and the Evoharp!
Evoharpist
extraordinaire Tawnya Kovach came to the CA Autoharp Gathering
from Petaluma, CA.
(photo: Pat Wolk)
The
Most Affordable Custom Autoharp on the Market!
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