Aloha! My name is Celia Canty and I’m pleased you’ve come to my website, perhaps wondering about music and healing, music and peace, music and calming. Perhaps you’d like to know more about the person who is providing these music services, whether it be a cellular soaking in sound via the Healing Circle, the Private Healing Harp Music Sessions, or playing hospice harp for your family member or pet.
Music has been my life’s calling since I first started playing piano at age 5. I have longed to connect Music and Healing since I was a youth and have been interested in esoteric Christianity and metaphysical studies since my own parents studied such when I was young. Here, at this time in my life, with this accumulated experience and study, I present these interests combined in order to provide a therapeutic, soothing sound to all who are seeking an opportunity to get still and create their own healing.
I received my BA along with my Teaching Credential in Music, followed by a Masters Degree in Music – Piano Performance, all in the early 1980s. As well, I started my harp studies while in college and continued for several years after graduation, when the world of “gigging” for hundreds of special events augmented my harp experience and education. [To learn more about what I have to offer for your wedding, memorial service, corporate event, etc., go here]
When I moved to Maui and lived there for 17 years, I had a performing harp business, and still do here in Southern Oregon. I gained experience in providing the perfect “score” of music for each special event for which I played. I also was introduced to the world of therapeutic music when I started playing for the local hospital for a few years. Now I play therapeutic harp for Providence Hospice of Medford, Oregon.
I had a wonderful opportunity to take the Therapeutic Harp Training Program from founder, Lynda Kuckenbrod and after completing the course, I am a Certified Healthcare Musician. (CHM)
I play the glass armonica (Benjamin Franklin’s invention) also and feel connected to the tones of the 100% quartz crystal that resonates in this instrument as well as in crystal singing bowls. I incorporated all of these ethereal sounds in combination with my harp and duo partner’s flute into my first CD available on this website.
My musical path took me through many years as a public school & university music educator, youth chorus conductor, community choral conductor, special event performer, and now hospice harpist. All of these experiences literally play into the breadth of my understanding in providing the perfect “musical score” for the therapeutic music I now offer.
As in any arena of life, there is no substitute for quality, experience, knowledge, finesse, and elegance. These qualities sound through the music I create whether for the Healing Circle, for the group or individual Music Sessions, for concerts and special events, or for hospice.
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EDUCATION
Born and raised in California, I attended California State University, Sacramento as a music major and received my B.A. in Music. I continued my education there and received a Masters Degree in Music with an emphasis in Piano Performance.
I began harp instruction in my 3rd year of college and throughout my college years and for several years after, I took harp lessons from MaryLee Dozier-Hicks who had her harp degree from Eastman, as well as from Peggy Brown, one of Northern California’s premier performing harpists at the time. My goal was to continue to improve my technique and build my repertoire. I continue to play both my piano and harp publicly and privately.
HEAVENLY HARPS
My husband, Lloyd, and I moved to Maui in 1996 and lived there for 17 years until moving to Ashland, Oregon in 2013. I built my harp business on Maui – Heavenly Harps of Hawaii – and played for over three thousand weddings and events in the islands. I am proud to have been, for fifteen years, the first-call harpist for the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea – Hawai’i’s only Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Resort. I was a harpist with the Maui Symphony Orchestra for four years, performing with them as the need arose for harp.
[To learn more about what I have to offer for your wedding, memorial service, corporate event, etc., go here]
I play both a 38-string carbon-fiber, lever (Celtic) harp, “DeLight,” and a full size, gold symphonic pedal harp, “Melelani.” The lever harp works beautifully for hospice as it’s more easily portable and maneuverable in the space conditions of all sorts of venues wherein a patient may be. My large size gold symphonic pedal harp turned 100 years old in 2013.
OTHER MUSIC EXPERIENCE
While on Maui, I also conducted the Maui Symphony Chorus for four years until I, along with a team of three others, founded Maui Choral Arts Association in 2003, the umbrella organization of the Maui Concert Chorus and Maui Youth Chorus. I also taught the College Chorus and other music classes as a part-time Lecturer at University of Hawaii Maui College campus. I combined the College Chorus with the Maui Concert Chorus for each of the latter’s concerts to give the concerts a wide spectrum of appeal and all the singers specia experiences working with each other.
The experience of programming – for Maui Symphony Chorus and then for nine years as Artistic Director of the Maui Choral Arts Association combined with the experience of performing personalized “musical scores” for each special event that I played harp – has culminated in “programming” the music for the Healing Circle and all the therapeutic music I now offer.
GLASS ARMONICA
One of my favorite instruments is the glass armonica. It is a rare and beautiful instrument. In 1987, I was privileged to acquire from Gerhard Finkenbeiner himself my glass armonica, and I’ve continued to play it more and more since then. I am fascinated by its legendary connections to Atlantis, as well as that it’s made of 100% pure quartz crystal, to which many healing connections have been made, especially by the inspirational late Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, M.D. in his book Sounds of Healing.
I was able to include the glass armonica, as well as singing crystal bowls, in various combinations with harp and flute, creating a magical ensemble for my CD Inner Quiet – Journey Inward.
As captivating as the sounds of her harp are, they are almost eclipsed by her glass armonica and its strange, brief history. ~Jerome Kellner, Maui Island Weekly~
HOSPICE
One Christmas Eve I fell and seriously damaged my knee and had to go to the emergency room at Maui Memorial Hospital, my first time ever for such an experience. I was so touched at the tireless work of all who assisted me, especially on Christmas Eve(!), that I wanted to give back and found a way to do so: by volunteering to play harp monthly in the Pacific Cancer Center at Maui Memorial Hospital; occasionally I even played in the Intensive Care ward. It became one of the most meaningful music-making opportunities for me! I became further blessed by this opportunity as it opened the door for me to play for Providence Hospice here in Southern Oregon/Rogue Valley area, which I continue to do since joining with them fall of 2013.
Summer of 2017 I graduated from the Therapeutic Harp Training Program, having been mentored by founder, Lynda Kuckenbrod. This gave me the title, Certified Healthcare Musician. (CHM)
My musical path took me through many years as a public school & university music educator, youth chorus conductor, community choral conductor, special event performer, and now hospice harpist. All of these experiences literally play into the breadth of my understanding in providing the perfect “musical score” for the therapeutic music I now offer.
My specialty is sensing in the moment the particular needs of my clients and playing music that provides for the needs and intentions of each individual or group
As in any arena of life, there is no substitute for quality, experience, knowledge, finesse, and elegance. These qualities sound through the music I create whether for the Music Tonic™, for the Music Spas™, for concerts and special events, or for hospice.
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I don’t know you, Celia. I was just thinking about Marylee Dozier Hicks a second ago, searched for her on the internet, and your page came up. Marylee and I were friends for a long time. She introduced me to the harp (curse her – LOL, of course). Now she is no longer with us, but I will always cherish her instruction and friendship. I was in touch with her tenant and good friend, John Fuller, for a while, but I have lost contact with him. What a sad day when I heard of Michael Rado’s passing, too.
I am now happily in Mexico with my lovely French instrument, and very grateful that I am here instead of the infernos of the Pacific Northwest. Hope you are well,
Andrew
Hello Andrew, Kind of you to connect! Small world, ’tis true, when one plays the harp. It sounds like you have found a good place to be and I hope your harp brings you lots of joy. Indeed, the Pacific Northwest is simmering in unseasonably tough heat! We survive by going to the coast. You take good care! In music and harmony, Celia