Aloha!
Celia Canty, Harpist for All Occasions
My name is Celia Canty and I’m pleased you’ve found my harp music business. Music has been my life’s calling since I first started playing piano at age 5. I pursued my music degree and received a Masters in Piano Performance. Starting with a Beginning Harp course in College, I studied for 5 years at CSUS and continued for several more years once I’d received my Masters in Piano.
Once I moved to Maui in 1996, I began to build my harp business and have played for over three thousand weddings and events since. As the owner of Heavenly Harps of Hawaii, I present the most elegant harp music available on Maui. As a symphony pedal harpist who has been classically trained, I offer you the opportunity to have a premier harpist providing exquisite music for your event.
My deep love of music and dedication to quality and integrity of the complete music-making process sets me apart from other harpists. I own a large size gold symphonic pedal harp that’s just shy of 100 years old. This beautiful instrument allows me to project a harp’s full rich sound to a greater number of people at increased distance than would be possible with a smaller harp. I can do this with or without the aid of amplification and this kind of harp gives me the flexibility to provide my clients with a much wider variety of repertoire played with integrity.
Not all harps are created equal. You will find many harpists on Maui providing harp music on small Celtic harps or concert lever harps. I play a full size, gold symphonic pedal harp. I am also the only trained harpist on Maui who provides vocals while playing my harp.
“Celia: we always know that we can trust in your integrity and high standards of service and quality, thank you for this. I had a bride tell me she never realized how beautiful the harp would sound and my response was that Celia is incredible and we are so lucky to have her as a musician on this island.”
-Carin Seim, Wedding Manager
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
I am proud to be the first-call harpist for the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea–Hawai’i's only Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Resort. That alone speaks of the quality I consistently provide to my clients, whether they are getting married or holding a corporate event at the Four Seasons, Makena Resort, Fairmont Kea Lani, the Kapalua Ritz-Carlton, Royal Lahaina Resort, the Resorts on Lanai, or in a private home, club, spectacular beach setting, or even a sailboat! I have been playing professionally for weddings & special events since 1990 at these venues and more and have provided service for over 3,000 events on Maui and Lana’i since 1997.
Whether you’re here to celebrate the wedding day you’ve always dreamed of, hold an intimate vow renewal at a resort, or host an amazing event for your corporate party, my music can enhance your Maui experience. To set the tone for your event, you want the best musicians on Maui–my colleagues and I are those musicians. We are professional musicians who have played for thousands of events and who have developed the expertise from many years of study and application on the instrument you are hiring us to perform.
My specialty is sensing in the moment the particular needs of my clients and providing music that forever becomes a part of your lasting memory of the special occasion, whether that be a wedding, vow renewal, celebration or corporate gathering. My repertoire focuses on the lovely and accessible classics and the most beautiful popular love songs, standards, folk songs, and sacred tunes.
“Your beautiful music added so much to our wedding ceremony. Thank you!!”
-Treena & Barry-
We know how to fine-tune the music to suit your ambiance, your requests, your minister, your age group of guests or employees. As in any arena of life, there is no substitute for quality: experience, knowledge, finesse, and elegance. This quality sounds through the music you will experience when you hire me or our group of music professionals.
For weddings, parties, corporate events, and dinners for two I offer solo music or specially arranged ensembles, duos, trios, quartets, and more. I work with only the best, most well trained musicians on Maui. My most popular requests are to play with my violinist, or with my fabulous quartet of cello, violin, flute and harp.
“I want to thank you so much for playing and singing at our wedding. You really added such a special touch. Many people commented on how beautifully you sang.”
-Patricia & Jean-Pierre-
I was a harpist with the Maui Symphony Orchestra for four years, performing with them whenever the need arose for harp, until they went dormant in 2002. Now I am the Artistic Director of the Maui Concert Chorus and Maui Youth Chorus, part of the Maui Choral Arts Association, which I founded 7 seasons ago in 2003. The Maui Concert Chorus and Maui Youth Chorus perform three to four large concerts a year. They also perform for both public and private events throughout the Hawaiian Islands. I also teach the College Chorus at University of Hawaii Maui College campus.
One of the most meaningful music-making opportunities for me is when I take my harp monthly to the Pacific Cancer Center at Maui Memorial Hospital. This is my opportunity to give back to the community and provide calming, soothing sounds for the blessed doctors and nurses, as well as the patients, who pass through the reception area for the PCC. There is much scientific research about the healing sounds of the harp and this monthly volunteer service allows me to provide just that for many people.
One of my favorite instruments is the Glass Harp or Glass Armonica. I have the only one in the Hawaiian Islands. It is a rare and beautiful instrument.
“As captivating as the sounds of her harp are, they are almost eclipsed by her glass armonica and its strange, brief history.”
-Jerome Kellner, Maui Island Weekly-
Born and raised in California, I attended California State University, Sacramento as a music major and received my B.A. in Music along with my Teaching Credential in Music. I continued my education there and received a Masters Degree in Music with my emphasis in Piano Performance. Throughout my college years and for several years after, I also took harp lessons from MaryLee Dozier-Hicks who had her harp degree from Eastman, as well as with Peggy Brown, one of Northern California’s premier performing harpists. My goal was to continue to improve my technique and build my repertoire.
I am extremely dedicated to my music and to my clients, often taking steps far beyond my required duties to insure my clients receive the greatest experience from their chosen music. I am excited and honored to play for your special event!
