Anne Roos is considered at the top of her field as a Celtic Harpist. She is a many-faceted performer who excels as a soloist in concert, as well as with her ensemble, with her years of experience and extensive music list. Her recorded music has aired internationally and has been described as "lovely" and "enchanting".
Anne Roos' love of English and Celtic music blossomed as a child and young teen at Southern California Renaissance Fairs, when she became involved singing in madrigal groups, performing period music. She started playing the Celtic harp quite by accident. While employed at an incredibly stressful job, Anne serendipitously met Sylvia Woods at a booth full of little Celtic Harps at a Winter Solstice Fair and began taking private instructions from her as a creative outlet. Then came music theory courses at UCLA and eventually teaching music for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Anne has been performing throughout the U.S. for more than twenty years as a soloist at resort hotels, convention centers, cruise ships, concert venues, highland games, Celtic and Renaissance fairs, casino clubs, wineries, meditation retreats-- you name it. She has been invited to perform for several dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland!
She makes her home at Lake Tahoe and continues to perform regularly, priding herself on the ability to be versatile and take requests: playing anything from O'Carolan's Irish music and Greensleeves, to Beatles love songs and Stairway to Heaven, and just about everything in between.
Anne’s CD projects demonstrate quality musicianship and versatility. Anne’s albums are unique--Her recent releases are actually little books with CDs tucked neatly into the back page. She recognizes that her listeners enjoy reading about the background of the music on her CDs.
Anne’s latest release, “A Light in the Forest”, is her most technically beautiful recording to date. It was recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound, and is perhaps the first folk/world/Celtic CD to be available in this format. The disc contains music of the Celtic harp with a small ensemble performing music about the woods and woodland creatures (fairies, elves, trolls, nymphs, leprechauns, and more). It’s packaged in a 31-page hardcover book describing the folk history and legends of the tunes.
Anne arranged and recorded a special Celtic wedding music CD called “Haste to the Wedding,” in direct response to the many requests she received from brides and grooms. “Haste to the Wedding” is popular with couples looking for romantic music to accompany their wedding festivities. It includes traditional Celtic music played on solo harp accompanied by an ensemble of traditional instruments. This CD is enclosed in a 48-page hardcover book containing vintage color images, Celtic toasts, blessings, legends, wedding traditions, and recipes. It’s a “must-have” for weddings. Anne is considered a wedding music specialist with her book "The Musician's Guide to Brides", published by Hal Leonard books as a how-to manual for musicians who are interested in performing for nuptial occasions.
“Mermaids and Mariners” features traditional and original music of the sea, arranged by Anne for both solo Celtic Harp and harp within a small ensemble. The beautiful sea ballads and shanties are packaged inside a 24-page hardcover book containing a bounty of illustrations and tales about life at sea. Selections from this recording have been featured on United Airlines Inflight Music Service.
One of her earliest projects, “Through the Mist,” features original New Age flute and harp duets, with flutist David Blonski. This recording is enhanced with soothing environmental sounds woven into the selections. This recording remains a favorite among massage therapists and yoga enthusiasts.
Anne’s Celtic harp can also be heard on a number of recordings available through the Siddha Yoga Foundation in South Fallsburg, New York, featuring music based on Indian ragas. She has recorded as a guest artist on many other projects.
"I really enjoy improvising from a skeletal idea of a song and seeing where it will go. I can get creatively stale playing solo harp as often as I do; I always get great new ideas playing with others. So, I relish the time working with great musicians, like the ones on my CDs," says Anne.
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