"Sensitive and Real"

Choosing the Celtic and Paraguayan harps for musical expression, Sidney's Alison Vardy -alternating sparkling demeanor, with impassioned mood- set them both 'afire', with playful and masterful fingering.

Interspersing her performance with bits of humour, Vardy tickles her audience...

Charming and elfin-like something wonderfully medieval transits her presence.  Still, one senses she is unaware of the depth of her talent.

"I'm often inspired by a rhythm, playing and developing it, for a year. As it evolves, it seems to improve with snippet here and there".   As her voice trails to a near whisper, she fascinatingly engages her listeners, "I'm always curious as to what others do".

There was something especially magical about the evening as the Yew Tree Gallery closed.  For a moment, I stood in the parking lot, and stared at the breathtakingly beautiful winter moon.  Even the smiling face of the man in the moon seemed gentler, and happier, as he shone down on earth and her children. Somewhere in that loving light, the music of the harp reached heaven. - Gabriola Sounder


...luscious round-the-world tour 

Rearranging folk music from around the world, this highly skilled and whimsical woman pulls and twists exotic rhythms from the strings - News Leader


Depth was something to notice at this concert.

Her concert was annotated by commentary between pieces that was educational, entertaining and pleasantly light hearted.  A complex embroidery of sound… runs, trills, triplets, glissandos with the confidence of a seasoned player. Vardy is a master of the technique of the harp - Island Tides


Combining the talents of an exceptional musician with the technology of a sound engineering partner, Alison Vardy transcends the usual concept of a concert performance. Vardy is generous with anecdotes and information about her instruments and tunes along with offering pure, ethereal sound

Vardy is a creative and inspired performer and has explored music from many corners of the earth. - Gulf Islands Driftwood


Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your music.  I'm that Seattlite who bought your CD Friday evening at Swartz Bay.  Best $20 Canadian I've ever spent! - James R. Illman


You could not tell if the harp sound was coming from the harps or the speakers - that's how subtle the sound system was. - Lori Pappajohn, BC HARPS Newsletter