Heart Strings - Testimonials, Performances, and Press Kit

You are true professionals.
Ina, Executive Director Broward County Fair 11/2006

Music for the Soul
St. Petersburg Times, 2000

Marg enjoys interacting with the public at private parties, concerts, festivals, and cultural events. Together with Bill they form a versatile duo where Marg normally plays lead on lever harp or banjo while Bill provides backup on guitar or mandolin.

Primarily a duo the band can grow for selected events where friends are often included. Our friends bring depth with fiddle, flute, cello, concertina, mandolin, and vocal harmony.

Heart Strings is a favorite at folk festivals and street events with many performances at the Florida Folk Festival, Christmas on Los Olas, Barberville Pioneer Days , and the Will McLean Festival. From January through March they are in demand at Celtic festivals and Scottish games. Their popularity at Celtic festivals may be attributed to their love of the music and Marg's harp skills as a Master Scottish Harper.

We focus on Florida songs, original compositions, traditional old-time dance music, and tunes with celtic influence. Sharing the story behind the music is essential to understanding and preserving our heritage. And knowing the story lets us travel back in time and living the lyrics and rhythm.

Florida Folk songs are musical stories of life and nature in Florida and we have documented the stories in our compositions from Gopher Stew to How do you eat a mango? We find the harp and guitar are the perfect medium for capturing the laid back attitude "old Florida". While the ranching and pioneer tunes are better suited to banjo and guitar.

"Being an 13th generation Floridian, it is an honor to continue an oral history through music and song", Marg.

In addition to writing several Florida songs each year, we preserve the traditions by performing Florida songs and traditional selections that might otherwise be forgotten. The tunes have meaning for us and we share them along with their history.

Heart Strings have recorded two CDs, Traditions and Over There. The greatest delight in making these recordings is having folks telephone, email, or stop you on the street to say "Thank you, it is among my favorite recordings."

Marg is a Master Scottish Harper, a harp teacher, composer, arranger, and song writer. In 2004 she won the Florida Harp Competition with her composition "Singer of Songs" (on Over There CD). Old-time music is banjo music and Marg uses the banjo for dance tunes, singing, and informal performances. As a Music for Healing and Transition Practitioner (MHTP) Marg brings healing music to shut-ins.

Bill collects and sings Florida songs with the blessing of the author. In addition to singing lead on many songs he provides solid rhythm backup on guitar and bass. And, Bill is a treasure when we need sound support because his sound is invisible, we only hope there is not a conflict with demand for sound support and entertaining.

Tributes

You are true professionals.
Ina, Executive Director Broward County Fair, 11/2006

I really enjoyed your performance yesterday - I hope you will come back again!
Kathy Boyes, Palm Beach County Library System
Manager, Marketing and Community Relations, 4/2006

Our residents were delighted. We will certainly ask you to play again.
Leenie Holgate, Watergate Activities Director, Juno Beach 12/2005

Heard part of your set at White Springs yesterday...
You were terrific as always. Of course, we all know "it ain't the harp, it's the harper"
Mary Jane, Gainesville 5/2005

Everyone was so taken with your music
and I hope that you will play for us again in the near future.
Dawn, Ft. Lauderdale, 12/2004

Contact Information
Send us a note by email
561-588-4775

Music for the Soul St. Petersburg Times, 2000

Tributes

Music for the Soul
St. Petersburg Times, 2000