Autumn Leaves

The calendar says autumn has arrived, but here in sunny Michigan, summer is reluctant to leave. We’ve had day after day of sun and balmy temperatures – you’d never guess it was autumn if it wasn’t for the endless onslaught of pumpkins. In the past week I’ve encountered pumpkin lattés, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin pie, pumpkin Oreos, and even pumpkin taco chips. So many pumpkins bravely sacrificing their lives for the Specialty Food Industry – will there be any left for Halloween??? So as I sip my pumpkin spice latté, allow me to share with you “What I Did For My Summer Vacation.” • Played in a jazz combo with my son – definitely the highlight of my summer! I decided to attend summer camp at my ripe old age – Summer Jazz Camp, that is. With my son! And we had a blast. Yes, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. I was inspired and came home from the camp with new musical ideas, one of which was… • Wrote a new piece for harp and violin – entitled Midwinter Night’s Dream, it’s another addition to the collection of music I’ve written and arranged for the Christmas Season. • Published a compilation of my harp arrangements for the Christmas Season. Entitled All Is Calm, this book includes 4 pieces for solo harp that are currently available individually, and two new pieces for harp and violin, the afore-mentioned Midwinter Night’s Dream and Suo Gan, a traditional Welsh lullaby. If you’re a harpist, violinist or pianist and would like to explore this new repertoire, it’s available on my website here. • Made my debut on a back cover – in one of the most delightful events of the summer, my friend Robin Meloy Goldsby, author of the renowned Piano Girl, invited me to write an endorsement of her latest book, Manhattan Road Trip. If you’ve never read Piano Girl, you must do so! It’s the hilarious tale of Robin’s years observing life from behind the 88 keys of a Steinway Grand Piano as a cocktail pianist in New York. Robin and I shared an instant bond when we met, as I am a Harp Girl, observing human nature from behind the 47 strings of my Lyon & Healy Concert Grand Harp. Writing an endorsement for Robin was indeed a great pleasure and honor. Manhattan Road Trip will be published in November. Autumn is gearing up to be a great season, with concerts ranging from the Detroit Symphony to backing up Josh Groban, as well as sharing the stage with the awesome talents of Pete Siers and Kurt Krahnke. I’ve listed my concert dates below, and you can always find them on my website at christagrix.com. For all my Jewish friends celebrating Yom Kippur today, I wish you many blessings in the New Year. With Warmest Wishes for a musical fall, Your Harp Girl, Christa Upcoming Dates October 2 and 3, 2015 at 8:00 pm Live webcast on October 3 at 8:00 pm Detroit Symphony Orchestra www.dso.orgOct 4, 2015 at 4 pm Featuring Kurt Krahnke and Pete Siers St. Patrick Parish of White Lake 248-698-3100 http://www.stpatrickwhitelake.org October 9, 2015 at 8:00 pm Josh Groban in Concert Fox Theatre Detroit http://www.olympiaentertainment.com/fox-theatre  November 12 at 7:30, November 13 at 10:45 and November 14 at 8:00 pm Detroit Symphony Orchestra Debussy La Mer www.dso.org December 5 and 6 at 8:00 pm Detroit Symphony Orchestra Mahler “Resurrection” Symphony www.dso.org December 9, 2015 at 4:00 pm Salon Concert with Kurt Krahnke and Pete Siers Christ Church Cranbrook www.christchurchcranbrook.org December 24, 2015 5:30 – 9:30 pm Christmas Eve at 5ive Restaurant www.stjohnsgolfconference.com (734) 357-5700