Personal note: I hope I'm doing the right thing here. Doing an online crowdfunding project to raise $14,000 (or $20,000) to buy a pedal harp by my 40th birthday while trying not to spam or forcefully pester anyone to give. I also hope it's all worth it. I'll be glad when I don't have to ask anyone for pedal harp money anymore when the goal is reached. I'll have all the money I need to buy a pedal harp that'll give me great joy to no end rather than grief and I'll find myself spending more time playing, practicing, and enjoying the harp rather than going around wasting time and years "begging" people for harp money.
Although I am known as the Owosso Harpist, my real name is Sherry Konkus and I have been praying and struggling to raise money to buy a pedal harp for a long time. I've been praying to the Lord to be able to afford and own a pedal harp for years ever since I was a young teenage girl. I gradually became fascinated with the pedal harp ever since I've been seeing it on TV and looking at pictures and photos of them in books. I get really excited to the point of having anxiety over the pedal harp to where I have to turn myself away from the harp to calm myself down.
Starting in 1989, I became really serious in wanting to play and own the pedal harp and started to look to where I can go to get a pedal harp and find someone who can teach me how to play the harp. My first harp I played was not a pedal harp at all, but an old fashioned lever harp that I rented, yet never wanted. But I played on that harp for 6 years, anyway, until I was able to send it back. Then after spending years trying to afford to rent, find, and eventually buy the pedal harp. I came across the most wonderful pedal harp I ever played — The Lyon & Healy Style 15 pedal harp that to me turned out to be just the right pedal harp to be called "Mr. Right." I rented one of the Style 15 harps from a rental place in Michigan and enjoyed the instrument to the fullest despite having issues with the buzzing strings. I was greatly heartbroken when I had to send the harp back because I couldn't afford to rent the harp any longer. Later I rented another harp, A Venus Classic Concert Grand Pedal Harp from a place in Florida I was able to afford paying the rent on, which turns out to have major issues that had to be addressed at the Venus Harp factory in Chicago big time and I couldn't afford to keep the harp at my house any longer.
So I had to send the harp back and end up buying a very small harpsicle harp that can only play music arranged for 19 to 26 stringed harps. The harpsicle I own is a 26 stringed harp that can never play the pieces and arrangements coming from the likes of Frank Voltz and Carlos Salzedo like the 46-47 stringed pedal harp can. The harpsicle has levers that can only be turned by hand to change the pitch of the sound. This can be difficult when it's done in the middle of playing a song. But on a pedal harp, you only have to use your foot the change the pedals around to match the pitch of the music so you can use your hands to play the music uninterrupted. This is what makes the pedal harp incredibly different than the lever harp and much more likeable to me.
Playing a harpsicle harp is fine, but playing music arranged just for small harps is not enough. I intend to buy a pedal harp, own a pedal harp like the Lyon & Healy Style 15, and broaden my musical skills. But I'm having a real hard time doing it. I come from a low budget background and work part time at my local Mental Health place doing evening janitorial work. At the rate I'm going I won't be able to make any money to buy a pedal harp on my own. That when this campaign comes in.
This Fundraising campaign is set to raise at least $14,000 or better yet, $20,000 for the purchase of the pedal harp and I would appreaciate your help and support to raise that amount by Tuesday, July 23rd, the day of my 40th birthday. Honestly I don't want to spend the rest of my life raising money to buy a pedal harp when what I should be doing is practicing and enjoying this wonderful heavenly instrument. To do that I need $14,000 (or $20,000) to buy such a wonderful instrument. And would greatly appreciate everyone all over my hometown of Owosso, MI and the WWW to do what you can to chip in any amount you like to give me to help reach my $14,000 (or $20,000) goal. Please help me achieve my lifelong dream of buying and owning a pedal harp by my 40th birthday. Thank you and God Bless.
