Dolores M. Martin of Perryopolis began playing classical piano as a child, but the tonal beauty of the harp impressed the multitalented musician to purse playing and teaching the instrument professionally. The harpist will be a featured performer to provide dinner music 6-8 p.m. Saturday during the second annual Celebration of Life gala at Lakeside Party Center near McClellandtown. The $50 per person gala is sponsored by the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Fayette County. "I was impressed with the tonal beauty and simplicity of the harp," Martin said. In addition to playing piano and harp, Martin said she plays console organ. Martin plays as a church organist at several area churches on weekends. A native of Blainesburg near West Brownsville, Martin maintains a music studio at her home where she teaches piano and harp lessons to students. She has been a Perryopolis resident for the past 20 years. "In 1989, I heard a harpist from California come to Uniontown to play for a concert and that's when I became interested in playing the harp," Martin said. "I enjoy playing for benefit concerts as well as weddings and receptions." She has adorned small lights and flowers on her harp. "I found the harp to be the most difficult of the instruments to learn in the sense that most of the strings on the harp are transparent and in different lighting situations it sometimes can be difficult to see the strings," she said. "Harps are diatonically strung and when I saw the performance in Uniontown, I really got interested in playing the instrument." Martin said she began taking lessons to learn the harp and then she later began teaching the instrument along with piano. Martin arranges her own music and plays classical and some of her own selections during events like the upcoming gala. "It's an instrument that can relay great passion and beauty of expression," Martin said. "It has a very mystical sound and I discovered a whole new captivated world of sound when I started playing the harp. The tones are so delicate." She has played for American Heart Association fund-raising events at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa near Farmington. She also will play the harp for an alumni program at California University of Pennsylvania campus Saturday. "I'm going to do a mixture of music Saturday that will include classical and romantic music," Martin said. "I may do some of my own compositions, but I haven't made all my selections yet." She said some of her students have won music scholarships and some travel 30 miles or more for the lessons. Ronnie Frederick of Uniontown, co-chairman of the Celebration of Life gala, said she's happy to have Martin perform for the event. Frederick and Francis Kachur of Hopwood are hoping the event will attract about 300 people like last year's gala. The deadline for ticket reservations is Wednesday. "I feel with the way things are with the economy, if we can get 300 people, I'll feel good, " Frederick said. She said the event benefits the annual Relay for Life held in August at Laurel Highlands High School stadium in North Union Township. In addition to Martin's harp music, Frederick said there will be dancing after the 7 p.m. dinner by the Lakeside Party Center Band and the fireworks display will be sponsored by Jim Erjavec of Fairbank. For more information, call Frederick at 724-438-9223 or Kachur at 724-437-5465.

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