Harpist’s journey makes sweet music in Medicine Hat

Baril has a private show Thursday morning but will be back at the Superstore parking lot at about 1 p.m. to play before getting back on the road.

Baril is a world-class musician, having played for prime ministers and member of the British Royal Family as well as being a featured soloist in the award-winning CBC recording “Harp Concerti” with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

She’s performed on her Harp to Heart tour at hospitals, seniors’ homes, parks and parking lots to bring hope, inspiration and music wherever people need it.

Sometimes they’re shows that are booked in advance and other times she just parks, opens the door and starts playing.

“People walk by and they hear it and are just happy to see something number one so surprising and so beautiful,” she says.

Baril is also continuing to teach students around the world over Zoom.

She enjoys bridging the gap between the technology she needs for that and the personal connection of harp music.

“So it’s amazing what is possible with the technology that’s out there to be able to do that,” she says. “But that’s what facilitates being able to get live music out to people so I really hope that that is making a difference finding a way to find that balance between the technology that makes so much possible and in that personal connection whatever way we can do it these days.”

She’s travelling in a van that’s doing double duty as a concert hall and her home.

“About one-third of the cargo area is the set up for the concert hall and my teaching space and so everything behind the sliding door is my living space,” she says.

The living space is 5.5 feet by 8.5 feet, featuring a bed, small kitchen, food storage and a hidden toilet.

She mostly stays on her own, but I do occasionally stay in a campground.

“Having sure power is good especially when it’s grey out. I have solar so am completely off-grid capable for three or four days,” she says.

For those days she’s “totally self-contained. In fact, really quarantined with my cat.”

She’s trying to meet as many people as she can wherever she stops and likes to take in the local sites.

“I love to meet people so when it’s possible even a distanced chat like this with someone who walks by is wonderful,” Baril says. “Yesterday here in Medicine Hat I noticed the teepee when I drove in so I went and took a look at that. That was very interesting and I always like to stay in a place for a little while to get a bit of a feel so I always drive around a little bit and just kind of get a sense of the place.”

Baril plans to stay on the road until October and hopes to make it to Newfoundland.

She’s already made a handful of stops in Alberta this spring. Last fall she did 33 shows over six weeks in Alberta and B.C.

You can follow Baril’s journey at harptoheart.org and find her on Facebook and Instagram.

by Chris Brown

Harpist’s journey makes sweet music in Medicine Hat

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