Music Director Janet Jackson Witman

Janet Jackson Witman is known for her ability to successfully crisscross the realms of classical and celtic harp music. Her classical training began as a young girl, and eventually took her to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She earned a Bachelors of Music Degree under full scholarship studying under Marilyn Costello of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Janet also studied with the legendary Alice Chalifoux at the Salzedo Harp Colony in Maine, and with Maria Lorcini of the Montreal Symphony. She earned teacher certification at West Chester University.
Learn more about Janet HERE.

Jeanette Bergstrom

Jeanette has been playing the harp since 2005. She owns a Faulkner 34-string lever. She is an accomplished pianist and keyboard artist. She teaches piano and is the musical director at Kemblesville United Methodist Church where her husband is the pastor. She has a CD called "You Are Here" with original compositions and various arrangements and styles of contemporary Christian music. Jeanette's desire is that her music brings glory to God. She resides in West Grove with her husband Dave. She has three married daughters and six grandchildren.

Sharon Bitner

Sharon Bitner, (Sherri) has been playing harp for 3 years. She lives in Lancaster, PA with her husband, Keith, who built her 34 string harp. Sharon began piano at age 7, has been a church organist since the age of 16 and a choir director for 25 years. Her undergraduate degree is in music ed. In recent years Sharon completed a masters degree in spiritual direction. Her spiritual direction practice is located in Lancaster. www.soulandharp.com Sharon and Keith have one adult daughter, Emily. Sharon enjoys reading, cooking and entertaining friends, travelling, playing the Celtic harp, and creating a warm, hospitable environment to welcome others in her home and spiritual direction offices.

Ann Bogda

Ann Bogda first heard the music of Brandywine Harps at their Christmas concert in December,2005, and was inspired enough by their music that she began studying harp with Janet Witman the following summer. Her musical background includes piano study and many years of playing with her church’s handbell choir. She began playing with the harp orchestra in early 2008, and owns a 34 string Faulkner harp in walnut.  Her husband Rick has supported her efforts enthusiastically and  even helps with the schlepping occasionally. Ann and Rick have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law who live in Roswell, Georgia, and Arlington, Virginia.

Pam Dimeler

Pam has been playing the harp since 2001. She also plays piano, guitar and sings with her Church Choir. She owns three harps by three different builders: Jack Faulkner, Dave McGaughey, and Harps of Lorien. She is the director/founder of Parkside Academy of Music and Dance in Parkside, Pennsylvania, which offers classes in various types of dance, piano and voice to students ages 2 through adult. Pam teaches 15 dance classes a week! She enjoys praising God with music and dance. She resides in Media, Pennsylvania, with her two daughters, two dogs, and husband Scott. Her "harp dog" Tristan attends weekly rehearsals and offers his advice as music critic. Her website: www.parksideacademy.com

Emily Foraker

Marilyn Hertler

Marilyn has been playing the harp since 2003. She plays a Dusty Strings 36 made of exotic Bubinga wood. She has also played and taught violin for many years. Before retiring, she worked as a chemist and programmer/analyst/manager. Since, she has taken up admin work for Green Master, Inc. (her son's landscaping business), weight-lifting, yoga, pilates and harp, Harp, HARP! She has two children and three lively and entertaining granddaughters. Her outdoor cat, Bingo, monitors her practicing from the deck outside her window. She schleps her harp herself in her Volvo V70XC Wagon. Marilyn wins the award for coolest harp gadget in the group—a computerized music stand.

Margaret Love

Margaret has been playing harp since 1997. She owns four: a Faulkner 34-string lever, a Camac Athena 47-string pedal, a Boulding Oladion wire-strung 24, and a mystery harp of unknown origin. She also plays flute, recorder, organ, piano and harpsichord. She teaches Early Childhood music at Wilmington Music School, as well as teaching music at CACC Montessori School. She is Handbell Director at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and we have her to thank for the handbells on Christmas Crossings! She has one son, Eric. Her husband Thom is president of the "Harp Schleppers Local 412." Their motto is "you pluck 'em, we truck 'em."

Kris McGuckin

Playing since 2002, Kris' harp is a 34-string Faulkner in Walnut. She is also an accomplished pianist and choral director. Kris is the Director of Activities and Music Therapist at Kendal-Crosslands Communities where she works primarily with residents in assisted living and skilled care. She is the former director and an honorary lifetime member of the Forty Niners Chorus of Chester County. She has published a book entitled The Forty Niners Chorus: A Sentimental Journey. She has also written two children's books, Tell Me Again and Letters to Remember. Kris and her husband, John, live in Downingtown. Their son, Josh, lives in Boulder, CO and daughter, Meghan, lives in Washington DC.

Carole Smith

Carole discovered the harp in 1999.  She now owns two 38-string Triplett Elcipse lever harps and a Salvi Diana Concert Grand pedal harp - all in walnut.  She also owns a 25-string Triplett McCall in cherry.  Her other passion is ice skating at The Skating Club of Wilmington where she is a Silver Level ice dancer.  Carole and her husband, Rick, live in Wilmington, DE near their son, Brian, and their 2 grandsons.  Their older son, Mike, lives in Chicago.

Heidi Weston

Forever in our hearts: Nancy Loux

Our harp angel Nancy passed from this life on May 24, 2012. She studied harp with Janet since 2001. She played two harps: a 34-string Faulkner and a 25-string Triplett McCall. She also played piano. She sang with her church choir, and composed several pieces used in worship sevices. Nancy was a retired psychologist. She and husband Harvey shared a great love of art, and much of their impressive collection illustrates their fascinating world travels. Both were former Delaware Art Museum Docents. Several "Harps on the Beach" retreats were held at their fabulous beach house in Lewes, Delaware. She is very much missed.

Kathryn Blackhurst

Kathryn has been playing the harp since 2003. She first studied the harp
under the instruction of JoAnne Kulick in Bridgewater, New Jersey. She also
plays the piano and previously the violin. Kathryn plays a 36-string Walnut Thormahlen Swan lever harp. She also owns a 26-string grape Harpiscle nicknamed "Larry Boy". Kathryn is homeschooled. Her parents are her "harp schleppers". Kathryn has played her harp at her uncle's wedding, her church
and at various times at a nursing home. She also enjoys a variety of other interests, including playing volleyball, horseback riding, reading, handwork
and making miniature clay figurines.

Rebecca Buchanan

Rebecca started playing the harp with Janet in April, 2004. Her harp is a 34-string Faulkner. She also plays piano and is learning to play the recorder. She can play a couple of songs on the guitar and bang out some rhythms on her brother’s drum. Rebecca has been singing with the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus since 1999, and is featured singing with them on Christmas Crossings. Her world travels include Greece, Thailand, New Caledonia, and New Zealand and she lived in Perth, Australia for 5 months. Rebecca is homeschooled. She has two younger brothers and a Goldendoodle named Karri. Her harp schlepper is her dad, and they move her harp around in their green Toyota minivan.

Cindy DiNetta

Cindy DiNetta, of Bear, Delaware, began studying the harp in 2000. She owns a 34 string Jack Faulkner harp and a Salvi Diana concert grand pedal harp. There is no harp-schlepper but Cindy in the DiNetta household. Cindy's husband, Tom, plays trumpet professionally. Duncan, a sweet English Mastiff, prefers the beautiful sound of the harp paws-down to the trumpet. At practice time, Duncan howls at the sound of the trumpet, yet sleeps peacefully next to the harp whenever it's played.

Melissa Heieie

Melissa first picked up the harp while living in Dublin, Ireland in 1999. Upon returning to Wilmington, she decided to make it a permanent hobby and has taken lessons from Janet since 2002. She now owns a 34 string Jack Faulkner harp in walnut. Her career in music began early in life as a church organist at age 14. Melissa is a proficient pianist, organist, flutist and vocalist. She is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with degrees in music and art. Other hobbies include yoga, tai chi, reiki, and all things artistic. She works as an administrative assistant, a piano teacher and a church organist.

Jupie Seaholm

When Jupie retired, she decided to learn to play a musical instrument and learn more about music. Her daughter’s mother-in-law, Gayl McDermott,  played her harp for her when she was visiting. Jupie fell in love with the sound and vibration, and the rest is history. She started playing in September 2003 and has not stopped since. She and her husband Jim have traveled extensively, visiting The Netherlands, Belgium, China, Alaska and Hawaii. She also enjoys quilting, working out at the "Y" and sometimes "fools around with folk songs" on her guitar. She plays a 34-string Faulkner harp in Black Walnut. She has 2 daughters, 3 granddaughters and 2 cats.

Fran McGaughey

Fran graduated in 1957 from McMurry College in Abilene, Texas. She also attended North Texas State University, and taught school in Irving, Texas. In 1985 she earned a degree in Music Performance from West Chester University. When she discovered the Celtic Harp, her life took an abrupt turn. She now lives to compose, arrange and play in the Brandywine Harp Orchestra and other ensembles, who perform many of her arrangements and compositions. Fran has published a collection of original music titled Wind Whispers From a Harp, which is available through Melody's Music. Her arrangement of Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is featured on Brandywine Harps CD Christmas Crossings.