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I’m Mary Radspinner, a Milwaukee native who spent nearly four decades in the Houston area before recently making the journey back “home.” It’s been an adjustment, but also an opportunity to reconnect with the place where my musical journey began.

I studied harp in Milwaukee with the great Jeanne Henderson, and music has continued to weave its way through nearly every chapter of my life. In Texas, I founded and ran Melody’s, a world-renowned harp store that became a destination for harpists and teachers. Along the way, I taught both piano and harp and became involved in countless projects that brought music and musicians together.

My interests have never stopped with music. I transformed my Texas yard into a certified wildlife refuge, became a Master Gardener, and earned certification in Texas Native Landscaping. Now that I’m back in Wisconsin, I’m happily starting over with native plants—this time learning the Wisconsin landscape and discovering what belongs in my new yard.

Today, I continue to teach piano and harp, while finding new ways to be creative. I develop tutorials and resources for my students, work on creative marketing projects for Melody’s, and am exploring the possibility of creating a cello-and-harp duo.

I’m also involved in the larger harp community. I host the Harp Teachers Gathering, a webinar created to bring harp teachers together to share ideas, learn, and connect. I conceived the Melody Makers Podcast and continue to support and guide its production which features interviews with prominent harpists whose work and influence have helped shape the world of harp print music.

Over the years, I’ve had some especially meaningful musical experiences. I recorded harp tracks for CDs by the late Sia Beaton in Texas, an experience I treasure. I’ve collaborated with nationally known Native American flute player Christina Noordover. Watch for our upcoming participation in the Birds Houston Wellness event on October 24. I often play harp as background music for events including wine tastings,  memorial services, breakfasts in courtyards and yoga studios. I choose music that I genuinely enjoy and that fits the spirit of the occasion. For me, it’s about  experiencing a sense of connection with creation.