My First Performance at the Farmer's Market

Dec 2, 2015

—

I ditched the homemade CD project. That one Reddit commenter and everyone else on Facebook who saw my articles is right. I must improve my harp skills before I can record a CD. So I went back to my GoFundMe page and reworded the essay, converting it into just a project to raise $$ for a concert harp so that harp music will be heard once more in Owosso, MI. I would like to set a goal to have a concert grand harp by next year’s farmer’s market event which is held every year from first Saturday of May to last Saturday of October. And I’d love to have your help to make this all happen. Help me get a concert harp so I can play at the Farmer’s Market again just like I did with this Venus Classic concert harp I named “Gilligan.”

The Venus Classic concert grand harp I rented from Budget Harp Rentals. This photo was taken the day it arrived at my mom’s house from Jacksonville, FL on May 27th, 2010.

Gilligan was a Venus Classic concert harp I once rented from Budget Harp Rentals, a harp rental place located in Jacksonville, FL. I only rented him for two years until I sent him back to where he came from because I wasn’t able to afford renting him much longer and with a small harp in hand which I’ll tell you about later, it wouldn’t be fair to focus on making my own harp sing while the rental harp just stays silent. During those 2 years of renting the concert harp, I frequently took him to the Farmer’s Market to play music for the people shopping at the market. In fact I can recall the time when I played at the farmer’s market for the first time. In fact it was on my 38th birthday when I took my rental harp to the market area on Exchange St where I set up shop right near the Owosso Middle School.

Once it was all set up and took the photo above, I went to the harp and played music for the first time at the market. It was great! People have been coming by to see me, hear me play, and drop some money into the jar. At times like this, it’s good to be a street musician playing music for people who really dig harp music. I remember a man representing a local church came over to me and invited me over to his church to do a gospel performance as part of their service. But he never bothered to give me details about what church he wanted me to perform at and what time the service starts. So I never went to the church he came from. Another guy came over and expresses his interest in playing the harp. He wanted to find where to go to find a harp teacher so he can learn to play the harp himself. So I gave him instructions on where to go to find one harp teacher I highly recommended which is Ellen Grafius, my own harp teacher who lives in E. Lansing, MI and he wrote them all down and went on his way.
More people came to listen, wished me a happy birthday, and dropped some money into my jar. I earned quite a lot of money putting on a great show for the first time ever. I played great harp music for the shoppers from 9am till noon. Then when my time is up, I packed up everything and went home. It was a great birthday. I really enjoyed it and so did everyone else.

OwossoHarpist

Sherry Konkus lives in Owosso, MI. She is the proud owner of the Camac Athena EX Concert Grand Harp named “Grover” and Camac Mademoiselle named “Ernie.” She’s also the proud author of The Punisher Harp Zone. Sherry is the one who came up with the idea of portraying The Punisher from Marvel Comics as the punishing harpist who plays the harp in memory of his family who was killed by the mob years ago.

Spread the love

About the author

Why does The Punisher play the harp?

It’s easy to imagine The Punisher shooting up criminal hideouts and blowing off the heads of thugs and mob bosses as the ultimate punishment for their crimes. But it’s hard to imagine (and believe) that there is also very gentle side to The Punisher no one knows about except for The Defenders (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist), Microchip (aka David Linus Liberman), and Spider-man (aka Peter Parker) who actually saw and became amazed at him doing something no one has ever thought he could do with his violent hands– play the harp. A gentle stringed musical instrument no one could ever believe that The Punisher would have such talent and ability to use his otherwise destructive hands to gently and tenderly pluck and caress its strings.

Indeed, it’s very hard to imagine and believe that the Punisher’s violent hands that brake bones, strangle necks, and punch out guts are the very same hands that softly and tenderly pluck, caress, and gracefully sweep across the strings of the harp.

Why does he do it, you asked? Because Frank is doing this in memory of his family whom he communes with through songs, poems, and prayers as he gracefully wave his battle-scarred arms and hands across the strings to fill his private family shrine with harp music that moves The Punisher to joyful tears.

Where did the Idea of The Punisher and his Harp come from?

It’s a concept I, Sherry Konkus made up myself. It combines my new found obsession with The Punisher that I had since 2014 and my life long love for the harp. It is the very best concept I ever made. This is my version of The Punisher from Marvel Comics who is portrayed by me as the punishing harpist who plays the harp in memory of his late family who got killed by a criminal mob years ago and whenever he needs a break from waging a one man war against organized crime.

The Punisher was created by Gerry Conway with the help of artists John Romita, Sr. and Ross Andru. His name coined by Stan Lee. The Punisher is owned and trademarked by MARVEL.

The idea, concept, and inspiration behind The Punisher’s portrayal as The Punishing Harpist who plays the harp in memory of his family is in fact my own. Sweetest. Idea. Ever.

The Punisher Harp Zone Archive

My First Performance at the Farmer's Market