Shared by Christa Kermode - Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator, as Guest Blogger.

John Kovac will be performing at Sky Meadows State Park during the Fall Farm Festival in October.  His performances will be October 1 and October 9 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. each day.  

While visiting Colombia with the Peace Corps in 1977, John Kovac saw a Paraguayan harpist playing at the Hilton Hotel in Bogota.  Fascinated by the harpist and his instrument, John foolishly traveled six hours on a bus to the musician’s home.  That visit to the humble harp maker’s shop (complete with chickens running around in the yard) resulted in John’s first harp purchase and a new mission: to some day make his own harp.  Ten years later, he reached his goal. His passion for the folk harp flourished and in 1991, John gave up his law practice for a new profession: musician and instrument maker. 

Harpist John Kovac

As a harp maker, John has constructed well over 200 folk harps.  He plays each one and believes that he learns something with each completed instrument.  He is constantly experimenting and never trying to do the same thing twice.  John has lectured about harp-building at the Library of Congress and has been invited to perform at several international harp conferences.  He had authored two articles about harp construction in harp journals, written several books, and his harp designs have been reproduced into kits, videos, and books.

John Kovac will be performing at Sky Meadows State Park during the Fall Farm Festival in October.  His performances will be October 1 and October 9 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. each day.  John’s books and CD’s can be purchased on his website or at the gift shop at Sky Meadows. 

For more information about these programs or other upcoming events, please call Sky Meadows State Park at 540-592-3556 or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.  

LOCATION: Sky Meadows State Park is less than two miles south of Paris, VA., via U.S. Route 50 to Route 17 South; or seven miles north of I-66, Exit 23 on Route 17 North. The park entrance is on State Route 710.