Shannon Connelly is known not only for her music performances around the Grand Rapids area but also for her instruction of other students. The twist? The Grand Valley State University student isn’t even a music major.

Connelly, a secondary education major at GVSU, has performed at multiple venues throughout the city including the JW Marriot, Frederick Meijer Gardens, the Basilica of St. Adalbert, Miller Auditorium and the DeVos Performance Hall. Aside from performing at such venues, she also teaches beginners-level harp at Jenison High School.

Connelly began playing harp when she was 10 years old with the help of her parents’ support.

“I have wanted to play the harp for as long as I can remember,” she said. “My parents say that I started voicing that dream when I was in first grade after we had gone to an orchestra concert that featured a harpist.”

After years of practice, Connelly was finally able to share her knowledge with others eager to learn the instrument.

“The opportunity to take on students actually fell into my lap,” Connelly said. “My former orchestra conductor contacted me and asked me to start a harp program through the school. It’s a really cool setup because it allows students to try the instrument without the financial commitment.”

This previous summer, Jenison High School was dedicated to making sure that people got the chance to try the harp if they expressed an interest in it.

“I had 18 students at one point this past summer,” Connelly said. “It was crazy, but amazing. Now I’ve really settled down with these five students who are taking it to the next level.”

Still a student herself, Connelly is aware of the time that one must invest in such an undertaking, and therefore has her students practice daily.

“It’s important to keep up on practicing,” Connelly said. “Even a few minutes of practice each day keeps the tunes ‘in your fingers.’ Daily practice also maintains callouses. If I go too long without playing, I’ll get blisters when I’m back at it. I’ll have to build up my callouses all over again; that’s never a fun process.”

Aside from the physical aspects of playing, Connelly has also been working to make sure she gets as many professional opportunities as possible.

“I’ve really been able to build up my business in Grand Rapids thanks to my former harp instructor,” she said. “I guess you could say her name was really ‘out there.’ Since she’s moved away, she’s still gotten a lot of calls for events. She explains she is out of the area and then passes on my name and contact information.”

With the help of her former instructor, Connelly was able to book a gig at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel to take place in December.

For the upcoming concert, Connelly plans to play classical music with a little splash of Christmas. She hopes this event will be as successful as previous venue performances.

“Every event is always great exposure,” she said. “I never know who is going to be at these events- it could be someone who is getting married this summer and wants a harpist at their wedding, or something like that. Networking is really important.”

For more information about Connelly’s lessons and her upcoming performance, visit facebook.com/shannonconnellyharpmusic.

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