As a very young child, music was an important part of Cynthy’s daily life. Her earliest memories included listening to operas from her mother’s record collection every Sunday afternoon, watching musicals on her family’s black and purple TV, and seeing the motion picture, The Sound of Music, when it first debuted in the theaters. However, it was her hometown parish that first inspired Cynthy to want to learn to play a musical instrument.

Her family lived just a few minutes away from the church, and she fondly remembers walking to church each Sunday morning with her family. Even as a child, she enjoyed Sunday Services immensely, even though she knew that she had to be very quiet and never turn around in church. The latter was more difficult for her to do since she was very curious about the sounds and voices that resonated from behind her in the choir loft. Cynthy remembers how the music from the beautiful church organ made her smile and giggle with delight. Noticing this, her parents arranged for her to talk with the church organist one Sunday when she was six years old. Soon afterward, they bought her a small spinet organ and arranged for her to take both organ and piano lessons.

While learning to play both the organ and piano, she became very attentive to all the music used during Sunday Services. She enjoyed her music lessons and learned to play many types of music. However, her favorite pieces were the liturgical compositions by G.F. Handel and J.S. Bach, especially Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.

When Cynthy entered the 6th grade, she showed an interest in learning to play the Bb Flute and soon began taking private lessons. She became a member of the Concert Band and continued to play the flute for Concert Band throughout her Junior High and High School Years. In addition, Cynthy became a member of the Junior High School Marching Band and a member of the Adjudication Festival Band which competed in statewide adjudication festivals that would later be awarded 1st place!

Cynthy’s musical interests did not slow down. She received a guitar as a gift, and learned from her friends in a Youth Organization how to play it. Soon, she played the guitar at various Youth Group and Church functions. However, her first opportunity to play the church organ in her hometown parish presented itself when she was fifteen years old. She was asked to accompany the soloist at an upcoming wedding because the regular organist was ill. After that, she often substituted for the regular organist, playing at weddings, funerals, Sunday Services, and later becoming the accompanist for the Junior Choir as well.

Her studies in organ, piano and music theory continued in college at the University of Bridgeport, simultaneously while she was concentrating on a major in Health Sciences. Cynthy graduated from college, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Health Sciences.

After college, Cynthy continued to substitute as a church organist, as much as her busy job and her marriage would permit. She hoped that someday she could return to music in a full-time capacity. Eager to continue learning, Cynthy took private voice lessons and studied for a year. However, once again, her busy work schedule coupled with her practice schedule and substituting full time, left little time for Cynthy to really enjoy music. She decided to take a break from playing music professionally, so that she could determine which direction her heart was leading her.

In the mid-1980’s, Cynthy decided to make a career change. She went back to college and earned a Certificate in Business Computer Programming, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Her life was full and busy in her new career. She was successful in the corporate world in Information Systems, and soon after was hired by an Information Systems consulting company. Cynthy became a highly sought-after Information Systems Consultant for her knowledge in both the technical and business aspects of the computer industry. Cynthy’s career soared as she was published in many technical journals. She was recognized for her skills in leadership, management, marketing, and business development. Cynthy’s career was at its height when she was a Director for a large computer consulting firm. It was at this point that Cynthy decided that it was time to make another career change. She longed to return to her passion, music!

Upon a suggestion from her husband, Cynthy visited the Virginia Harp Center. It was there that the staff introduced Cynthy to the beauty of the Concert Grand Pedal Harp. It was love at first sight!! Cynthy rented her first harp and immediately began instruction in the Salzedo Method, on the Pedal Harp, under the tutelage of accomplished harpist, Lynnelle Ediger-Kordzaia. Within a few short months, Cynthy purchased two of her own harps; a Lyon & Healy Pedal Harp and a Dusty Strings 36-String Lever Harp.

During this time, Cynthy wondered in which ways she could share the beauty of harp music with others. It was at that time when she started to investigate harp therapy. Cynthy learned of the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP). She learned how it instructs harpists to play the small harp, bedside, for patients in hospices or hospitals, or residents in assisted living facilities, or to use the small harp in a variety of other modalitcies. Since Cynthy’s undergraduate degree was in Health Sciences, Certification as a Therapeutic Harp Practitioner appeared to be a perfect match!

Cynthy applied to, and was accepted, into the International Harp Therapy Program in May 2003. She continued her instruction in pedal harp and at the same time, pursued studies in the IHTP. Cynthy graduated from the IHTP in September 2004. She now manages her own business as a Harpist and a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner, playing harp for patients in hospitals, hospices, or residents in assisted living facilities. In addition, Cynthy plays harp for Church Services, Labyrinth Walks, and a variety of special events and celebrations. Cynthy is also a harp instructor and President of the Richmond, VA Chapter of the International Folk Harp Society Harp Anam Cara Harp Circle.

“It is as if my whole life has been leading up to this point”, she professes. “There is such joy every morning when going to play harp for patients in hospice, or hospitals, or assisted living facilities to share God’s gift of music.”

What does Cynthy dream of for the future? She states, “Enabling others in realizing their dreams, finding their joys, and sharing their gifts with others. It is through engaging with others, that I believe we can each encourage one another so that we all can joyfully and selflessly, bring compassion, healing, understanding, and wholeness to ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors around the world."

Meanwhile, Cynthy’s other joys are found in spending time with her family and friends, time spent gardening and in nature, in her herb garden, in writing poetry, and in composing music on her harps.