Ginna Paredes
On Sunday, April 13, Baton Rouge Gallery is happy to host harpist Ginna Paredes in an interactive harp 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.
“I have walked the paths of mathematics, physics, and chemistry, but it was music that saved me. It has been music that, since I was 18 years old, has taken me on a journey of learning through Indiana, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas, weaving strings and bringing the harp to the hearts of those who listen to me. Louisiana, too, was where I shared this journey by teaching music and language.
One day, while walking at the school where I worked, a soccer ball hit my head. Since then, I have struggled with learning and cognitive challenges, but music has saved me. For this reason, I now want to take a step forward into the field of music therapy, to reach those who have suffered a brain injury.
My dream is to bring all this experience and knowledge back to the land where I was born, Ecuador.” - Peredes
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.
Sundays@4 is presented in partnership with the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area whose mission is to enhance the identity of our unique American landscape by preserving and promoting our heritage and by fostering progress for local champions that create authentic, powerful connections between people, culture, and the environment.