Ginna Paredes
On Sunday, May 19, Baton Rouge Gallery is happy to host harpist Ginna Paredes in a solo performance. As with all Sundays@4 performances, this will be free and open to the public.
After studying harp for two years with a visiting Fulbright Scholar, Ginna debuted her musical career with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador in 1990. She had walked away from a nearly completed degree in sculpting after hearing a harp performing live, in her hometown of Quito, Ecuador. Ginna moved to Indiana University at Bloomington, in 1992 to actively pursue a degree in harp performance under Susan McDonald.
Ginna earned several music performance degrees as well as several graduate educational degrees, in the following years from LSU, Texas Tech, and Duquesne University. During these years, she performed with a variety of symphonies across the southwest. Her style began as exclusively classical and has morphed over the years to include popular and jazz. She has taught improvisation at the American Harp Society jazz workshops in New Orleans and has gigged in venues from weddings to jazz venues such as Snug Harbor in New Orleans. She is a member of the American Harp Society.
Locally, Ginna has performed at many venues including LSU, the Old Governor’s Mansion, St Albans, the Unitarian Church, and the Baton Rouge Gallery. She has been active in fundraising for Katrina victims, homeless refugees, and earthquake victims in her home country of Ecuador. She has volunteered as a harpist at Mary Bird Perkins, Woman’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital.
Those who know Ginna, remember her as a Spanish teacher rather than as a musician. Over the years, She has taught at Millerville Academy, Live Oak High, LSU, Baton Rouge Community College, U High, Zachary High, and Episcopal Middle. She also taught at the Performing Arts Center and has conducted workshops in Guatemala and El Salvador.
Ginna has her studio near the Garden District, in Baton Rouge where she teaches piano, harp, and Spanish. Her music instruction incorporates Suzuki, Molnar, and Orff techniques for children as well as adult students who wish to create their own music as well as reading classical scores.
When she is not teaching or performing, Ginna hangs out at home with her husband and her yellow lab “Tres”. She loves sudoku and working in the yard. Most years, she and her husband host an excursion to the High Andes and Amazon Jungle of Ecuador. Some years, she hosts a group cruise/tour of the Galapagos Islands.