Joyce L. Hershey
teaches how to play and improvise on the harp using hymns
and spiritual songs along with technical exercises. With
the Lord's help, she has written "Learning to Praise
the Lord with the Harp," a comprehensive instruction
book for beginning to intermediate levels.
She was born
on June 2nd, 1950 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to John and
Ada Reba Bachman, who surrounded her with hymns and uplifting,
worshipful music in their home, and took her to church where
she observed the church pianist, who taught by example that
it's possible to play very skillfully, and with such a worshipful
attitude that the glory goes to the Lord.
She studied
Music Theory at Houghton College, and began playing the
harp in 1983, being blessed to study with two very gifted,
diligent teachers, the late Mrs. Dorothy Henschen and Mrs.
Phyllis Ensher-Peters, who were both students of Salzedo.
In 1971, she
was married to Leon B. Hershey, Jr., who has diligently
sought to lead their family in ways that honor the Lord.
They have been blessed with precious children . . . a son
Keith, and his wife, Carol, and their four children . . . and a daughter, Cherie Lynn. They enjoy special worship times
together as a family. The years have been filled with blessings
and challenges, but they have seen the Lord's faithfulness
to all His promises.
Joyce is continuing
to arrange hymns and spiritual songs, and seeks to play,
and teach others to play, skillfully and worshipfully, in
a way that brings honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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