—by Meghan Caulkett

Meghan Caulkett is bringing the harp to the homeless through 47 Strings.

Meghan Caulkett is bringing the harp to the homeless through 47 Strings.

One harpist’s quest to take the harp out of the concert hall.

Two years ago, I founded 47 Strings, an innovative harp concert series. What makes this music program unique is that we present concerts around the Houston area for those who are not normally exposed to harp music. By taking the harp out of the formal concert hall setting and performing in a wide variety of venues and neighborhoods, we have reached a diverse group of listeners. Within the last two years, I have presented over 30 solo harp and chamber music concerts all around Houston, Texas. Performances have taken place at an AIDS clinic in Montrose, homeless shelters in Downtown and East Houston, and in the waiting room of The Texas Children’s Cancer Center in the Medical Area. Community concerts have occurred in Midtown and at Rice University. And seniors have been introduced to the harp in Midtown and West Houston. Ages of audience members range from only 18 months to seniors in their 90s. The vast majority of the listeners are lower-class, and are often homeless or in extreme poverty. They are frequently Hispanic, African-American, or another minority group. 47 Strings works to make an individual connection with every audience member regardless of age, race, or socio-economic status through original programming that presents specific pieces and pertinent information based on the audience’s age and previous music knowledge.

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I founded the series with the mission of taking the harp out of the concert hall. Whenever people picture harpists, they usually conjure up images of fair, dainty ladies with long, flowing gowns from the Victorian era. I wanted to show that the harp is a relevant, accessible, and current instrument. I also wanted to help the instrument and repertoire gain exposure in the Houston community. It seems that every time I am loading my harp in my car for a performance, a stranger walks across the street to ask me what it is. They then say that they have never seen the instrument up close, or even heard one live at all. It baffles me that something I am so passionate about can seem so foreign to my neighbors. 47 Strings works to relate the harp, and classical music, to everyday lives through original programming and arrangements. By presenting informal concerts in unconventional venues that encourage audience participation and questions, thousands of people have been exposed to the harp in a new way. Audiences are even free to try plucking the strings or sitting behind it if they wish.

One group I have an incredible passion for working with is children in homeless shelters. Houston has a shockingly high number of homeless children, with over 10,000 children registered as homeless in Harris County School Districts. These children often fall behind in learning assessments, and have little or no arts education. 47 Strings has partnered with Houston homeless shelters and service organizations to initiate the “Learning Through Music” residency. Twelve concerts will be presented at various organizations in Houston that address the issue of youth homelessness for kids from three to eight years old, most of whom have never seen a harp or heard classical music before. The residency spans from October 2013 to May 2014, and presents solo and chamber music while incorporating educational subjects such as math and science, as well as storytelling and creative thinking.

Through collaborations with other professional musicians in Houston, each concert will introduce the children to the harp as well as a new instrument, such as the tuba, trumpet, and flute. Involving other musicians is one way to increase the educational value, by exposing the children to new sounds, instruments, and pieces. It also provides the platform for other musicians to participate in outreach concerts. Through the 47 Strings residency, we can help positively influence the community by providing an outlet for expression, creativity, and involvement through the arts, while traditional educational subjects are reinforced in a unique and fun setting.

Success to me is inspiring children to explore and be creative with music. I anticipate being able to reach over 200 children in the Houston area through these performances, and I hope to inspire these children to actively participate in the programs and associate music with positive experiences later on in life.

Telling a 4 year old who has been living in extreme poverty that, yes, she can pluck a harp string if she wants to and watching her eyes light up as she touches an instrument for the first time is an incredible experience. I am eager to begin these performances and to see where this journey leads. •

Meghan Caulkett received her master’s degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and her bachelor’s degree from Boston University. Meghan is in her third season as the Principal Harpist of both the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and Symphony of Southeast Texas. She has performed with the modern group Musiqa, as well as Opera Tampa and the Houston Symphony, and is a Da Camera of Houston Young Artist Fellow. 

Follow 47 Strings

You can learn more about 47 Strings by going to its Facebook page, or visiting its Website for concert updates, photos, and more information at fortysevenstrings.com.

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