BETTY-ASHTON ANDREWS BIOGRAPHY

By Christine Piccione

To some, the word "harp" might evoke images of cherubs or angels, or perhaps a classical piece played in a hushed church sanctuary. But harpist Betty-Ashton Andrews hopes to add new views to these notions. Whether she's playing in a hospital waiting room, on stage with a rock band at a crowded club, or in the home of one of her students, Betty-Ashton knows that the harp is more than an instrument… it is a means of healing, her method of creative expression, and her way of bringing joy to others.

The talent of mastering such a unique craft came naturally to 23-year-old Betty-Ashton. From the moment her fingers first graced the strings at age nine, she knew the gift was not her own and decided that whatever the setting and whoever the audience, she would use her gift to bless others. Little did she know all the ways God would use her one instrument to affect so many people.

While in high school in her hometown of Roanoke, VA, Betty-Ashton founded the "Harp to Heart" music therapy program and began her ministry at Carilion Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in hopes of creating an environment that would allow the babies to grow and heal more effectively, and simultaneously bring a dose of comfort to the weary parents and visitors there. Around the same time, she also began teaching harp lessons in her students' homes.

College led Betty-Ashton to Nashville's Vanderbilt University in 1997 where she continued teaching and began formal studies at the prestigious Blair School of Music. Soon after her arrival in Nashville, she began volunteering her time and talent to play in the NICU at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In the fall of 2001, she became a "Musician In Residence" and continues to visit the hospital each week, filling the corridors of the NICU, cancer center, and Heart Institute with the harp's soothing chords. She also visits several pediatric areas where she plays Disney music for the kids and then allows them to have a hand at playing the harp themselves.

If you ask Betty-Ashton about her musical goals, you will find that they are about as distinctive as the harpist herself. Known for her quirky hats and fashions, Betty-Ashton also loves the uniqueness of her hyphenated first name (even though she is often mistakenly referred to as "Betty"). This individuality inevitably carries over into her musicianship. In the teaching environment, she uses a variety of methods and music from standard classical tunes to modern pop songs to keep her students interested and eager to practice. She takes her passion for the harp very seriously. Betty-Ashton explains, " I hope to instill in my students the importance of remembering why they want to play and how to use the harp as a means of expressing themselves, relieving stress, and bringing joy to themselves and others."

Another unique facet is Betty-Ashton's sincere desire to be viewed not only as the typical harpist who simply plays background music in hospitals or in weddings, but as a musical artist. Specifically, she hopes to use her creativity to expose people to the versatility of the harp and shatter the common misconception that it can be used only in classical music settings. As a step toward this goal, she has released two solo harp albums featuring both traditional and modern pieces and is currently working on her third release, which will feature other Nashville-area musicians. She has also played on recordings for Veggie Tales, the teen pop group Jump 5, and on other rap, Celtic, and rock projects. In the spring of 2002 Betty-Ashton began writing her own songs on the harp and collaborating with other singer/songwriters in Nashville, which is something she's excited about pursuing further. "I have a passion for creating original music because it is something that I cannot take ownership of doing on my own, and it's not something I was taught. It's just something that happens now when I start moving my fingers," Betty-Ashton says. "I also absolutely love playing creatively with other people and using the harp to accent someone else's music. I look forward to some writing projects that are coming up in the future."

Betty-Ashton believes that playing her harp to bless people's lives is what God has called her to do, and this fact became very clear in one of the recent events in her life. In June of 2003, her younger brother Britton was in a nearly fatal car accident. One night in his hospital room as Betty-Ashton and her parents were keeping a vigil and praying for his healing, she felt led to play her harp for her family. As she began to pluck the strings, her mother and father fell to their knees in prayer, their anxiety slowly melting away. In this intimate moment, her father remarked, "Years ago, when Betty-Ashton began playing the harp, God knew she would be playing for us this very moment." While her brother is miraculously on the road to a complete recovery, the situation served as a sobering reminder to Betty-Ashton of where our gifts originate and the purposes behind them.

With such an immense talent and so many outlets in which to express it, it would be easy for Betty-Ashton to be self-exalting. But after talking with her for just a few moments, anyone can easily see the humility of this young woman who is certain her music comes from a greater source. "I want to use the harp as a means of interacting with people," Betty-Ashton says fervently. "My desire is for people to know that the joy, peace, and healing they are longing for doesn't just come from music, but from a God who loves and cares about them."

--Christine Piccione 09/03