Cymber Lily Quinn

Wow, what an honor to receive a Celebrity Achiever award from the National League of Pen Women in February. I was warmly greeted by a group of fabulously talented and artistically inventive women. Not a single wall-flower anywhere.

It was a pleasure to meet the other Music honoree, Lijah Raoof, Art honorees Dorothy Brown, Bonnie Jo Smith, Julia Watson, and Letters honorees Diana Chan, Erica Goss, and Lille McGhee Queen.

Many thanks to Susan Zerweck, who announced the Music awards.

Since 1897, the National League of Pen Wome has promoted the development of the creative talents of professional women in the arts. The League consists of local branches, state associates and members-at-large, a membership of about 2,000 women throughout the United States. Headquarters are in the history Robert Todd Lincoln Mansion at 1300 17th Street, N.W., Washington, DC  http://www.nlapw.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HONORS WOMEN IN THE ARTS

“On Feb. 12, a location celebrity luncheon will be hosted by the Santa Clara County branch of the National League of American Pen Women, a nonprofit encouraging women to pursue careers in the arts. The luncheon will recognize eight women in the county who participate in music, writing or art.

The luncheon will be held at the Elsk Lodge, 444 W. Alma Ave in San Jose. Tickets are $35 each. Proceeds from the ticket sales go toward scholarships for women graduating from high school, college undergraduates, or women of any age returning to school to complete their education in the arts.

According to Patricia Dennis, the branch’s publicity coordinator, $7500 in scholarship money is given to four women this year. Dennis, a Campbell resident, was a past scholarship recipient in the arts category.

 

Giving Women Artists Courage

“For some recipients, this award makes a difference, giving them the courage to pursue their career goals, knowing that their endeavors were acknowledged by such a prestigious organization,” Dennis said.

Former Campbell resident, Cymber Quinn will play the harp at the luncheon. Other women to be recognized at the event include San Jose residents Lija Raeof, Dorothy Brown, Bonnie Smith, Julia Watson and Lily Quinn, along with Erica Goss from Los Gatos, and Xana Chas from Los Altos Hills.

Quinn, who recently moved to Santa Clara, was nominated for recognition by Dennis.

“Her music is absolutely wonderful,” Dennis said.

 

How a Copywriter Becomes a Harpist

As a child in Greeley, Colorado, Quinn played drums, the french horn, and multiple wind instruments, and also sang.

“By the time I was 15, I was burned out.” Quinn said, “adding that she didn’t sing or play music for 27 years.

During her musical hiatus, she worked as a copywriter for the Indianapolis News, writing obituaries. She then worked in advertising and came to the Santa Clara Valley during the dot-com boom in 1996, staying until 2004.

At the age of 42, Quinn found her way back to music after trying to heal from several surgeries and undergoing a hysterectomy in her late 30s.

“I wasn’t really recovering well,” Quinn said. “The doctors weren’t really sure why, so I started more alternative approaches to healing.”

She looked to Reiki, a stress reduction method to heal one’s body through hand movements. The Reiki master Quinn was learning from suggested finding what made her happy when she was a child. In 2008, when Quinn was flipping through a catalog, she came across a harp.

“I have this memory of being 6 years old and my parents taking me to hear the symphony – and that night the harpist had a solo,” Quinn said.

 

Harp Lessons by Skype

At the time, Quinn ordered her harp, she was living in Hawaii, which made finding a harp teacher difficult. She eventually found a harpist who taughet her how to play via Skype and showed her the healing effect it could have on other people.

In 2013, when she returned to the Santa Clara Valley, she took up teaching at The Music Place, a music school for children in San Jose. Since then, she’s been teaching harp to children and playing at churches and yoga studios. She also plays at the bedside of the elderly and ill, and at Touch to Heal Spa in Campbell.

“There are many benefits to hearing relaxing and meditative music,” Quinn said, adding that the vibrations from the harp have helped people. Quinn said that she’s even had people tell her they play her CDs on their commute home from work to relax them.

Quinn has released four CDs, in of which was featured on National Public Radio. Another album is in the works. Quinn said she is moving back to Hawaii in April.

by Jasmine Layva