Harp Strings COD's Vanessa Sheldon by Brane Jevric 92260 Magazine September/October 2007 Some people, especially here in the golfing mecca of Palm Desert, collect sets of golf clubs in hopes of playing a better game. Dr. Vanessa Sheldon, 22, College of the Desert's youngest professor, collects harps (she has five) and plays superbly on what is considered one of the most difficult musical instruments. Of course, no golfer plays like Tiger Woods, but Sheldon is in some ways similar to the master of golf. They both started playing at age 2, and they are both prodiged in their respective fields. "My mom said that I crawled up to her harp at our home, and played with the strings for the first time when I was just 2," recalls Sheldon. From such an early age, the harp has been an inseparable part of Sheldon's life and her meteoric career, both in school and music. It took her only 15 years to finish high school, graduate from college, earn her master's degree and secure a doctorate of musical arts. "I especially cherish my college graduation in 2001, at the age of 16," admits Sheldon. "Not only was I the youngest Cal State Los Angeles graduate at the time, but the occasion was also so special because of the fact that my mom, Julie Evans, graduated alongside me as a returning student with a major in music." At the "ripe" age of 19, after earning her doctorate, Sheldon became a professor at COD. "Actually, I started giving private harp lessons at the age of 12, so I was not a stranger to teaching," she intones. "Although I was officially hired by the COD at 19, I started teaching at 20, in August of 2005. I am currently teaching American Music and Introduction to Art and Music." This fall, she will still be the youngest professor at COD, perhaps one of the youngest in the nation, nevertheless she will be younger than many of her students. "When I started teaching at COD it was at a night class, so practically everyone was older than me. And, everyone wanted to find out how old I am," she says. This young and radiant woman is definitely different than many of her peers. By her own admission she does not even own a pair of jeans. For her performances, she dresses in elegant long gowns, which complement her custom-made white harp. And, there is a story about that amazing instrument that she likes to tell. "My white harp was made by Salvi in Italy, and it took seven years to finish it," exclaims Sheldon. "Because it took such a long period of time to make it, there probably would never be a white harp made again." Sheldon would not admit how much her precious white harp- which has some 24-carat gold on it, along with painted roses- is worth. She just mentioned that there are harps out there on the market "ranging from $200 to $200,000," and, mind you, she has more than one harp in her collection. "My five harps live at home," she adds jovially. "The pedal harps need to be regulated every so often; they have (more than) 2,000 moving parts that can sometimes require fixing. The lever harps have been described as 'worry-free,' but they do get 'jealous' if I don't play them enough." In one of the famed Disney-animated classics, a cute siren is playing harp. Certainly, there is an exotic aura about that instrument because of its arched ivory shape and the 47 strings that produce such a magical sound. But, not everything in Sheldon's life was so easy. The musician has ben estranged from her father since she was an infant, and there is no communication either way. Nowadays, she lives here in the desert with her mother and grandmother, and, although Sheldon has traveled and performed in China, Spain and South Korea, she adores Palm Desert above all."I remember celebrating my elementary school graduation here, and the Gardens at El Paseo were not here when I was a kid," she says. Of course, she swiftly admits, she likes shopping there now. "Actually," she continues, "the Palm Desert area is great for a professional harpist because of the events, the parties, the functions, the fundraisers, and the whole society here is just perfect for me." And there is a CD with her own music in the making with a possible title, "The Desert Nocturne." "Now, that I mentioned it," she explains with her characteristic wit,"I 'just' need to compose it for harp." Upcoming harp performances Dr. Vanessa Sheldon will be performing on Nov. 1 starting at 5 p.m. at the Edenhurst Gallery on El Paseo. She will be performing for the opening reception of the "Early Desert Painters"exhibit, in conjunction with the Art Walk. "I'll be playing Impressionist music to correspond with the art," Sheldon says. Also, there is a performance of Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. at the Gardens on El Paseo. "It's a spa day put on by Origins, and I'll be playing my Celtic harp in the lawn area in front of Saks," explains Sheldon. She will be performing, as well, at the Palm Springs Library on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. The program will include her transcriptions of Scott Joplin's "A Breeze from Alabama," and Liszt's"Sonetto 104 del Petrarca." The performance is free and open to the public, and before the concert there will be wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres. "This program will be one of my most eclectic yet, and will include classical, jazz, and pop as well," Sheldon says.