ABrief Bio

Award-winning singer and harpist Verlene Schermer presents a diverse, upbeat style of music that leans toward contemporary jazz and blues. She accompanies her dynamic, versatile voice on folk harp, electric harp, double-strung harp, and cross-strung harp.

Inspiring international audiences with her poignant observations of modern living, and strengthening the capacity of each person to creatively envision a better reality, Verlene's original songs and five solo recordings are often described as "transformative" and "empowering."

A 1997 prizewinner of the Lyon & Healy Pop & Jazz Harpfest, Verlene is a sought after harp player and singer who gives concerts and workshops throughout the country.

Verlene performs as a solo artist, but also in several groups, from duos to jazz combos, to her four piece band.

She has been performing as Hospital Musician at El Camino Hospital since the Spring of 2002, and at Stanford Hospital and Lucile Children's Hospital since August of 2003. She performs on her double strung harp in waiting areas, on the units near the nurses stations, and in patients rooms. She is also heard in the Atrium Concerts three times a year at Stanford Hospital (check the performance schedule for dates and times).

Along with her busy performance schedule, Verlene teaches thirty private voice, folk harp, guitar, and piano students each week. Many of her students can be heard in local clubs, coffee houses, and recording studios. In addition to her private teaching schedule, Verlene offers a 5-week class on various topics, including Harmony Singing, Songwriting, Sightsinging, Performance and Stagemanship, and various harp related topics. She has also been a member of the teaching staff at the California Coast Music Camp, a week long camp for adult musicians since its first year. Verlene is available to give workshops on harp, singing, or songwriting in your area.

As a writer, Verlene has written articles for the international newsletter, Vocals (now on line), since the publication began in 1988, and has been Vocals' technical editor since the third issue. Another aspect of her writing is her music writing. She has also published vocal articles in Vocalease. Not only does she write her own songs, which can be heard on her five solo recordings, but she also writes arrangements for solo harp, harp & flute, and guitar & flute. A companion book to her duo, Silverwood's debut instrumental album is now available. Also available are companion songbooks for some of her solo releases, tune books of jazzy arrangements of traditional tunes, books on how to arrange for lever harp, or play accompaniments, and a book on the basics of singing. Decriptions of books can be read on her Music Books page. You can also now order CD's or books using PayPal. She has also written stories and poems that have been featured in such publications as Vocalese, The Folk Harp Journal, The Fling, and a harper's garden.

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Verlene Schermer's Upcoming Performances and Workshops

Wednesday, 3/26/08, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with The Verlene Schermer Band
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Saturday, 3/29/08, Harp workshops 10 - 12 and 1- 3, plus concert 3:30 - 4:30 in Nevada City, CA
For more information and tickets email: lisastine_harp@sbcglobal.net

Sunday, 4/20/08, 2:00 - 3:00 pm -- workshop for Harpers Hall "Ear, Eye, Hand Coordination"

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Past Performances

European Tour 9/8/01 - 9/22/01:

Saturday & Sunday, 9/8/01 & 9/9/01, beginning at 10:30 am
Harp Workshops (with Verlene Schermer & Kyle Wohlmut)
     Verlene - "Cool Chords & Groovy Rhythms"
      Kyle - Play Like Sileas
at Verenigingsgebouw “Het Akkord,” Oude Straat 9,
Veere (Zeeland), the Netherlands
Cost: NLG 75 (one day)/NLG 150 (both days)

Saturday, 9/8/01, 8:30 pm
Concert with Verlene Schermer & Kyle Wohlmut
at Stadshuis Veere (Veere Town Hall)
Veere (Zeeland), the Netherlands
Cost: NLG 23

Tuesday, 9/18/01, 8:30 pm.
Concert with Verlene Schermer & Kyle Wohlmut
at “Cafe Zeitlos,” St. Stephansplatz 25, Konstanz, Germany
Admission free
Info: Irene Wolke +49 (0)7531 27856

Thursday, 9/20/01, 8:30 pm.
Concert with Verlene Schermer & Kyle Wohlmut
at Club “K9,” Pfauengasse 1, Konstanz, Germany.
Ticket Info: +49 (0)7531 16713 or info@k9-kulturzendrum.de

Saturday, 9/22/01, 8:00 pm
Concert: Rock, Blues, Jazz und Pop to the Harp with
Verlene Schermer, Nancy Thym, Kyle Wohlmut
Lindenkeller
Veitsmüllerweg 2
D-85354 Freising, Germany
Tickets: +49-8161-41700

Saturday, 4/6/02, 12:00 noon
Concert on Cross-strung harp in the Santa Barbara Harp Festival
The festival takes place on April 6 & 7 and also features Kim Robertson and Lynette Johnson
Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, 1535 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Saturday, 4/6/02, 8:00 pm
Scotch & Soda Concert with Barbary Grant and Verlene Schermer
Noble House Concert Series

Saturday, 4/20/02, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Harp Workshop at Dusty Strings: Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms

Saturday, 4/20/02, 7:00 pm
Concert at Dusty Strings (with bassist Nigel Green)

Saturday, 5/17/03, 8:00 pm with Call Us Crazy
Cayuga Vault in Santa Cruz, CA

Friday, 3/4/04, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with Neal Hellman on Mountain Dulcimer
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Saturday, 6/26/04, Time 4:00 pm concert with Anita Farley and Patrice Haan,
5:00 harp workshop
at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival at Roosevelt Middle School
located at 440 Arguello (between Clement & Geary) in San Francisco, CA

Friday - Sunday, 7/16/04 - 7/18/04 -- workshops and concert
Somerset Harp Conference in Somerset, New Jersey
Workshops:
      Friday, 9:30 - 11:00 am, The Sing Along Harper
      Saturday, 9:30 - 11:00 am, Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms workshop
      Saturday, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, Songwriting
Concert: Sunday, 3:00 pm with Terese Honey, Ann Heyman, and Michael Rooney

Wednesday, 8/25/04, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- this free lunchtime concert is open to the public!
Aryeh Frankfurter and Verlene Schermer, harps, guitar, violin and vocals
Traditional Celtic and Scandinavian tunes, and original songs
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Wednesday, 9/1/04, 7:30 pm -- with Neal Hellman on Mountain Dulcimer
Espresso Garden Cafe Located at 814 Bascom Ave. , San Jose , CA Tickets $10 at door

Friday - Sunday, 9/17/04 - 9/19/04 -- harp workshops and concert for the Gulf Coast Harpers in Fayetteville, Texas
Workshops:
Saturday morning: 9:00 - 10:30 - Part One Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms**
10:45 - 12:00 - Part Two Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms
Concert: Saturday evening, 7:30 pm - features local JP Terry Ross on harp,
local fabulous talented favorites pianist Rick Rowley and vocalist Ron Weber.
Special Guests: Verlene Schermer and Kimberly Snaufer

Friday, 9/24/04, 7:45 pm Aryeh Frankfurter concert at Chabot Space and Science Center
(Verlene will play in Aryeh's ensemble on harp, guitar, and fiddle along with guitarist Kevin Evans)
For more info on this concert visit www.lionharp.com.

        Thurday, 10/7/04, 7:30 pm -- Verlene will be opening for Celtic Harper Kim Robertson
           in a house concert in Santa Cruz, CA, presented by Gourd Music
          For ticket information please call: (831) 425-4939
          To purchase tickets online visit www.gourd.com.

Friday - Sunday, 10/8/04 - 10/10/04 -- harp workshops and concert
at the Great Lakes Harpers Regional Conference

Email Jean or Anne Humphrey for more information at BigHarper@aol.com
Workshops: Saturday: 11:00 - 12:30 Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms for arranging part 1
Saturday: 1:30 - 3:00 Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms for arranging part 2

Sunday: 11 - 12:30 Understanding Your Learning Style
Concert on Saturday night, 7:30 pm featuring Verlene Schermer, Jenny Cohelo, and Jeanne Chennette

Sunday, 2/20/05, 3:00 pm Cross-Strung Harp Concert
with Harper Tasche, Verlene Schermer, John Metras and the Workshop Harp Choir
at the Sheraton Hotel -- Northern Harrier Room
745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma, CA

Friday, 2/25/05, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with Neal Hellman on Mountain Dulcimer
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

European Tour May 6 - 22, 2005

Friday, 5/6/05, 8:00 pm

International Festival for Historical Harps
Concert: Neue Wege fur Alte Harfen
Verlene Schermer, Nancy Thym, Kyle Wohlmut
Lindenkeller
Veitsmüllerweg 2
D-85354 Freising, Germany

Friday - Sunday, 5/6/05 - 5/8/05, times and locations TBA
harp wokshops at the International Festival for Historical Harps in Freising, Germany

Saturday-- Sunday, 5/14/05 -- 5/15/05 all day
Harp Workshops, and Concert on Saturday evening in
Krumbach, Austria

Friday, 5/20/05 and 5/22/05, by appointment,
Verlene Schermer will be available for private lessons in harp, voice, composition, and arranging
in Utrecht, the Netherlands (location TBA)

contact Kyle Wohlmut at srpen@disinfo.net or Verlene at info@verlene.com
Saturday, 5/21/05, starting at 10 am (Time may change)
Harp Workshops -- Arranging: Adding Spice to Traditional Tunes
Veere (Zeeland), the Netherlands (location TBA)
Saturday, 5/21/05, evening
Concert with Verlene Schermer & Kyle Wohlmut
at Stadshuis Veere (Veere Town Hall)
Veere (Zeeland), the Netherlands

Northwest Tour with Aryeh Frankfurter and Verlene Schermer
July 2 - 11

Saturday, 7/2/05, evening, Eugene, OR

Sunday, 7/3/05, 4:00 pm, Concert with Celtic Muse, Vancouver, WA

Tuesday, 7/5/05, Workshop at 7:00-8:00, Concert at 8:30, Vancouver, BC
Thursday, 7/7/05, afternoon HarpCon 2005 in Big Sky Montana
Verlene Schermer in concert
featuring Lyon & Healy Silhouette Electric Harp and Voice

Wednesday, 7/20/05, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with the Verlene Schermer band
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Wednesday, 9/21/05, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with the Verlene Schermer band
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Wednesday, 11/2/05, 6:30 pm workshop, 8:00 pm concert

in Phoenix, OR (between Ashland and Medford)

The workshop by Verlene will be "Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms", and the concert will be a joint concert with Aryeh and Verlene playing in various combinations of two harps, harp and guitar, harp and violin/viola, harp and keyboard, playing Aryeh's traditional Scandinavian and Celtic tunes, and Verlene's original upbeat jazzy songs. Contact Laurie at LAHunter90@aol.com for reservations and directions.

Thurs, 11/3/05, 7:00 pm concert

in Eugene, OR at the Eugene Hotel

See above for concert description (David Helfand will join us on a few tunes in addition to duo and solo pieces). Contact David at helfand2@mindspring.com for more information.

Friday - Sunday, Nov 4 - 6, in Seattle, WA, Dusty Strings Symposium (see http://www.dustystrings.com/shop/05harp_symposium.shtml for more info). Aryeh will be teaching workshops and performing, along with several other wonderful teachers and performers at the symposium. His concert will be Sunday evening, featuring his traditional Scandinavian and Celtic tunes he'll play on harp and viola, accompanied by Verlene Schermer on harp, keyboard, guitar and violin, and Kevin Evans on guitar.

Sat, 11/5/05, 7:30 Verlene will be performing a cafe gig on Vashon Island. For more info, contact Cafe Luna at: http://www.cafelunavashon.com/frame_events.htm

Saturday, 2/11/06, 7:30 pm

Gifts from the Harp Concert, featuring The Harpers Hall Ensemble, Verlene Schermer, Amy Krupski, The Standing Stones with Debra Knodel

at Covenant Presbyterian Church

located at: 670 E. Meadow Drive (near Middlefield), Palo Alto, CA

Suggested Donation: $12 adults, $10 children under 12

This concert will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank

Northwest Tour -- 3/9/06 through 3/13/06

Verlene will be performing on Celtic Harp, Double-strung Harp and Cross-strung Chromatic Harp, with Linnette Bommarito on flute and alto flute. In these concerts, Verlene and Linnette will present a diverse program with a mixture of vocal and instrumental pieces, from original songs and compositions, to classics, to jazz!

Thursday, 3/9/06 -- starting at 7 pm

Private lessons in Medford, OR. Email Verlene at info@verlene.com to set up a private 30 minute, 45 minute or 60 minute lesson on harp, voice, songwriting, or music theory.

Friday, 3/10/06, 7:00 pm, House Concert

Vancouver, WA (home of Mark and Val Blessley)

Call (360) 576-8111 or email blesses@pacifier.com for reservations and directions

Seating is limited, and fills up fast!
Tickets are $10.00 in advance, no sales at the door, please prepay to reserve your seat!

Saturday, 3/11/06, 10:30 am and 1:30 pm

Harp Workshops at Dusty Strings in Seattle, WA

The Sing-Along Harper
$30 or $50 for both of the instructor’s workshops
For beginning and intermediate harpers, in this class we’ll learn how to “jam” along with a song circle on popular sing-along songs – just like people who play guitar! We’ll use folk and pop tunes that have words and chords only – no written music. You’ll learn how to play chords in a variety of rhythm patterns and you’ll learn “fingerpicking” styles to play along with singers and guitarists and other musicians in a group setting. Use these patterns to accompany your own singing or another singer or instrumentalist!

Singing Mechanics – a Look Under the Hood
$30 or $50 for both of the instructor’s workshops
This is a basic “how-to” for singers of all levels. We’ll take a look “under the hood” at the mechanics of singing to gain an understanding of the physiology of singing. Visual concepts and practical exercises will be given to provide a clear path to improving the strength, range, and effectiveness of the singing voice. Verlene Schermer has been teaching voice for over 25 years, and has published several articles in magazines such as Vocals, and Vocalese.

Saturday, 3/11/06, 7:30 pm Concert -- Joining Verlene and Linnette will be bassist Nigel Green

At Dusty Strings 3406 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle WA

For more info call: 206-634-1662 or visit www.dustystrings.com

Sunday, 3/12/06, 2:00 pm

Concert with Jane Valencia

On Vashon Island, WA

At the Vashon Land Trust Building
10014 SW Bank Road, Vashon

Email jkv-situxuddle@foresthalls.org for more info

Monday, 3/13/06 -- time TBA

Private lessons in Medford, OR. Email Verlene at info@verlene.com to set up a private 30 minute, 45 minute or 60 minute lesson on harp, voice, songwriting, or music theory.

Saturday, 3/25/06, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Harp Workshops in Nevada City, CA

Playing to Heal
$20 or $35 for both of the instructor’s workshops
In this workshop, you’ll add to your repertoire of music to play in a hospital, hospice or even for background music at a dinner party. You’ll be provided with a few simple transcriptions of some great tunes, and you’ll learn some tips on how to play requests you’ve never played on harp before (finding the melody, finding the chords…) You’ll also learn a few simple chord progressions that make improvisation easy and effective. Verlene will share some of her experiences in using these tools as a hospital musician at Stanford Hospital in patient’s rooms, ICU’s, Children’s hospital, and the Cancer Center.

Cool Chords & Groovy Rhythms – Jazzing up your harp arrangements

$20 or $35 for both of the instructor’s workshops
Modern musical styles use chords that include notes beyond the triad, and rhythms that sometimes swing, sometimes syncopate. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to find those jazzy “extra” notes that will spice up your arrangements and how to insert them “on the fly” as you play tunes already in your repertoire! You’ll also learn how to jazz up the rhythms with a few simple tricks!

Saturday, 3/25/06, 3:30 pm, House Concert (contact Lesley for more info at lesley@heartworks.bz)

Friday, 3/31/06, 12:30 - 1:30 pm with Neal Hellman on Mountain Dulcimer

Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (open to the public)

located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Saturday, 6/17/06 -- all day! Verlene will perform solo and with the Harpers Hall Ensemble at the Campbell Scottish Games

Campbell Community Center, located at Campbell Ave & Winchester Blvd, in Campbell CA.

Performance times are 11am, 2pm, 3:30pm.

For general Info, check http://www.campbellgames.com.

Wednesday, 7/5/06, 12:30 - 1:30 pm

The Verlene Schermer Band

Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (open to the public)

located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Thursday, 8/3/06, 8 pm -- Verlene Schermer on Electric Harp in a joint concert with Cynthia Shelhart - Double Strung, John Metras - Cross-strung, and Harper Tasche - small harps at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose -- for more info: Somerset San Jose

Tuesday, 8/22/06, 8 pm -- The Verlene Schermer Band in concert at

Don Quixote's International Music Hall

Tickets: in advance (recommended) $8.00, at the door, $10.00Saturday and Sunday, 9/2/06 and 9/3/06 all day (times TBA) Solo and ensemble performances at the Scottish Games in Pleasanton at the Alameda FairgroundsSunday, 9/17/06, 2:30 - 4 pm with The Verlene Schermer Band Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival, Lake Pavillian Stage

Tuesday, 12/19/06, 7:00 - 7:30 pm and 8:00 - 8:30 pm-- a concert with the Harpers Hall Ensemble
at the San Jose Cathedral in Downtown San Jose

Friday, 12/22/09, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with Silverwood -- harp and flute
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Saturday, 3/17/07, 11 am – 3 pm -- with Silverwood (harp and flute):
Open House at Toll Brothers Ferienze Condominiums
On Chancery Lane at Central Parkway in Dublin

Friday, 3/30/07, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with Neal Hellman on Mountain Dulcimer
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Wednesday, 6/13/07, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with The Verlene Schermer Band
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

Saturday, 8/4/07, time TBA -- concert with Neal Hellman on Mt. Dulcimer

in Santa Cruz -- location TBA

Saturday and Sunday, 9/8/07-9/9/07 , All day 10 am - 6 pm
Mountain View Art & Wine Festival
located on Castro between El Camino and Evelyn
My booth will be at the corner of Castro and Church

Saturday, 9/22/07, two concerts with Harpers Hall to celebrate the release of our new CD:

2:30 p.m. at the Santa Teresa branch of the San Jose Library,
290 International Circle, San Jose 95119, across from Santa Teresa Kaiser Hospital.

7:00 p.m. in the Glen Rouse Assembly Room of The Terraces of Los Gatos,
800 Blossom Hill Rd., immediately adjoining King’s Court Shopping Center.

Wednesday, 10/03/07, 12:30 - 1:30 pm -- a concert with The Verlene Schermer Band
Bing Music Series in the Stanford Hospital Atrium (which is open to the public)
located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA

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Contact Information

For booking information, email Verlene at:	or snail mail Verlene at:
info@verlene.com	Verlene Schermer c/o Karmalu Records P.O.Box 24412 San Jose, CA 95154

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