Strings + Supper: Live Harp Music plus Supper Specials Saturdays 6p-8p

Beautiful Harp music with Mrs. Carmela:

Ginna Paredes (Carmela) grew up in Quito, Ecuador. She was completing her 5th year of a bachelor’s degree in fine arts (sculpting) when she heard a visiting Fulbright scholar playing a harp. With no hesitation, she abandoned her fine arts degree and began to study music. In two years, she debuted as a harpist, with the Ecuadorian National Symphony Orchestra.After a year, Ginna came to Indiana University to begin degree work as a classical harpist under Susan McDonald. Her study at IU led to a full scholarship at LSU for a Batchelor’s degree in Harp Performance and later a Master’s degree at Texas Tech, also in Performance. From Texas, Ginna moved Pittsburgh to study under Gretchen Van-Hoesen, at the Pittsburgh Symphony. She returned to LSU to complete another master’s in music education and language.While at Texas Tech, Ginna performed with a variety of symphonies across the southwest. Her style began as exclusively classical and has morphed over the years to include popular and jazz. She has taught improvisation at the American Harp Society jazz workshops in New Orleans and has gigged in venues from weddings to jazz venues such as Snug Harbor in New Orleans. She is a member of the American Harp Society.Many who know Ginna, remember her as a Spanish – French teacher as wellmas a musician. Over the years, Ginna has taught at Millerville Academy, Live Oak High, LSU, Baton Rouge community College, U High, Zachary High and Episcopal Middle. She also taught at the Performing Arts Center and has conducted workshops in Guatemala and El Salvador.Ginna has her studio in the Garden District, in Baton Rouge where she teaches piano, harp and Spanish. Her music instruction incorporates Suzuki, Kodaly, Molnar and Orff techniques for children as young as 2 years as well as adult students who wish to create their own music as well as reading classical scores.When she is not teaching or performing, Ginna hangs out at home with her husband and her yellow lab “Tres”. She loves Tai-Chi, Yoga, origami, sudoku and working in the yard.

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