In the Gaelic language, AnamCara means "soul- friend". This is exactly how Debi, Kate, and Caroline feel about each other and their harps. The women first blended their talents three years ago, after meeting for the first time. Last year they shared the magic of their sound in their second Winter concert series from Kamloops to Penticton. Debi, Kate, and Caroline bring together a wealth of creativity and experience in AnamCara.

Debi Johnson, a life-long pianist, has studied classical music, jazz, rock, opera, musical theatre, voice and has conducted choirs and ensembles for years. After discovering the Celtic harp, Debi was inspired to explore the history and music of this unique instrument. In addition to performing with AnamCara, Debi performs with renowned woodwinds player Larry Crawford in a duo called Windenharp and tours with a solo sacred program entitled Harp Psalms. Debi has two CD’s – A Christmas Harp of Joy, and Harp Psalms. Debi resides and works in Summerland.

Kate Gibson Oswald, knew it was love at first sight when she bought her first Celtic Harp six years ago. Prior to this, Kate's musical journey included singing with premier vocal ensembles in BC and Ontario, playing viola, teaching and playing recorders and studying Orff music. Kate holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an Education degree from Queen's University, training in sculpture and photography. Music has dominated her creative outpouring and she is now completing her first solo album, Musician's Canvas. The CD features original compositions, both vocal and instrumental, a selection of newly arranged Celtic songs, and original settings of the remarkable poetry of Margery Herwig Gibson, including the new Canadian Christmas classic Apple Trees in December. Instrumentation on the disc includes harps, recorders, viola, piano, guitar and percussion. Kate lives, creates and teaches harp at her studio in Lake Country.

Caroline Mackay tours outside British Columbia three or four times a year as a solo artist. Since 1995 she has performed to audiences of up to 1000 in such diverse venues as England, Switzerland, Texas, Michigan, Chicago, San Francisco, and all over Canada from BC to Ontario. In the Spring of 2004, she will appear in a three-week tour of the Islands of New Zealand, celebrating her fifth CD release, Tidings of Light. Caroline is Director of High Spirits Music & Harps, an Okanagan-based Company specializing in performance, composition, recording and harp instruction, and including a harp-building business headed by husband Daniel. Formerly mentored by Kim Robertson, Sharlene Wallace and Kathryn Ely, Caroline now teaches a full complement of enthusiastic harp students, both adults and children, at the Community Music Schools in Kelowna and Vernon. Currently, she is developing new systematic Curriculum and Theory programs for Celtic Harp Studies.