“The harp captured my time and my heart, my major, my life work, and I am still passionate about it to this day!
-Jill Whitman
Where are you originally from?
I was born in upstate New York–Syracuse–as my dad was helping build the St. Lawrence Seaway. Early years were spent in Minnesota, West Virginia, Seattle and New Orleans.
How did Bellingham become your home?
My father worked for the DoD (department of defense) and we were fortunate to live in Germany for many years. Upon graduation from highschool, I planned to return to the US for college and settled on the UW as our last residency was Seattle. I met my husband Mitch there, and both of us entered grad school–myself at WWU and he at UBC. At the time, Bellingham didn’t have a harpist and there was much music to be played! Nick Bussard was very kind and invited me to play with the orchestra, and many other professors and musicians were supportive and encouraging. We didn’t really purposefully plan to stay–it just seemed to happen as life went on and we had our two girls to here.
Tell us about your journey to the harp as your instrument of choice?
I started playing the piano at a young age–probably 5 years old or so, and arrived at UW as a piano major. At the time we were required to have proficiency in a second instrument and I realized violin was out of the question. I had two friends in theory class who were harpists and told me their teacher would accept a new student. After my first lesson I was completely taken by the sound of the harp; I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. My teacher, Pamela Vokolek, was highly encouraging and sent me for summer study to Maine at the Salzedo school with Alice Chalifoux (Cleveland Institute of Music). To make a long story short, the harp captured my time and my heart, my major, my life work, and I am still passionate about it to this day!
Do you remember a time when you were young and something musical just grabbed you?
Ah yes, my mother would play records for us all the time; Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”- I would dance around the living room! Also Leo Delibes “Coppelia” thrilled me. My father had old 45’s with fabulous jazz artists and pianists that we enjoyed listening to–I think Jelly Roll Morton was one of the faves.
Are there any musicians or teachers in particular who have played important roles in forming your thoughts as a musician?
I owe much of my life and joy and purpose to my harp teachers Pamela Vokolek and Lynne Palmer, for their investment in me, stories of Salzedo, encouragement to persevere and practice and study. Cheryl Kraft and Mary Kay Waddington were also instrumental in training in the Suzuki method, considering how little I knew about how awesome children were at the time!
What are your (current) favorite classical pieces with and/or without the harp?
Oh my, that is a hard question to answer.
I’m enjoying Arturo Marquez. Have a listen to “La Pasion Segun San Juan de Letran”.
Ravel’s “Introduction and Allegro” is a favorite. As is of course Debussy’s “Trio for flute, viola and harp”! And Mahler symphonies–
What would you dream of BCMS programming for you to play?
Ha ha well, I would love to play William Grant Still’s “Ennanga”. I just performed it in January with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, but there is a chamber version.
What keeps you inspired as a musician?
Listening to all kinds of music, playing for different symphonies and chamber groups, the camaraderie of creating amazing music with colleagues and friends, wanting to always improve my own playing, having new projects and arrangements to work up, students who give me new perspectives, travel to other countries, seeing beauty in nature and art and architecture, and a good night’s sleep!
What do you love to do besides music?
Play with my poodle pups, horseback ride, hike and walk on our beautiful NW trails, fix and eat good food, travel and dream about traveling, spend time with family and especially my first granddaughter: