Help Ackeem Get His First Pedal Harp

Hi everyone,

My name is Ackeem Salmon, and I am a Jamaican-American composer, harpist, and visual artist. Currently, I am in need of my first concert grand pedal harp.

I've been formally pursuing music alongside my visual art practice of painting and photography for the past 13 years. In the fall of 2022, I purchased my first lever harp from Lyon and Healy Chicago, marking my first significant investment and a step towards this branch of my artistic practice. Since August 2023, I have transitioned to a pedal harp, enabling me to compose and perform more complex pieces and experiences. This shift has granted me opportunities to perform within various settings including different orchestras and ensembles at notable venues such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Cube, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Recently, I had the honor of being cast as the Harpist at the National YoungArts Foundation Annual Gala held at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach, Florida, alongside Tony Award-winning actor Daniel Watts and other musicians and performers on January 13, 2024.

The harp I currently use is a rental, made possible in part by the harp gigs I take on each month. Unfortunately, I will have to return the instrument at the end of the rental period.

This is a common challenge faced by those of us who choose to pursue this instrument, as harps in general are very expensive and hard to afford out of pocket.

Receiving my own pedal harp will be a major milestone for me as it will allow me to continue my studies and practice without the constant worry of not having access to one. This ownership will enable me to pursue higher-level opportunities, collaborate more extensively with larger groups, orchestras, and ensembles, as well as be able to further organize future immersive concerts and exhibitions outside the context of a concert hall and classically defined settings.

I recently had been given the opportunity to purchase the former harp of Detroit jazz harpist Harvi Griffin, currently owned by Patricia Terry-Ross, who has performed with the Detroit Opera House for over 40 years. This Lyon and Healy Style 30 Concert Grand Harp is being offered for $13,000.

For any harpist, this is both a gift and an honor, given the legacy of the players who have owned this instrument before me. It is an excellent option, as its sound is equally brilliant and will elevate my playing to new heights compared to the student-grade, smaller harp I am currently renting.

It would mean the world to me to have your support and belief in my art to help me continue exploring the harp beyond the context of classical music and orchestra halls. If you help me reach my goal, I plan to organize a free, in-person concert/recital in Detroit, which will be live-streamed and recorded at a later date in 2025.

See the price breakdown and check out some of my work below. Please share this fundraiser on your social networks! Every little bit helps!

Thank you all so much in advance for supporting my artistic career and the success of Black artists and artists of the diaspora who challenge the stereotypical imagery associated with the harp.

Always grateful,

Ackeem Salmon

Website

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Price Breakdown:

Harp: $13,000.00

Harp Strings (2 sets): $1530.24 (USD 765.12 per set)

Harp Cover set: $745.00

Harp Regulation for one year: $1000.00

Insurance for 5 years: $2000

Amp and pickup install: $400-$600

Total: $18,875.24