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LEZIMA GOMES
Doha
The harp is probably one of the most beautiful musical instruments, both in its sound and its graceful shape, and Raquel Lebr'f3n enhances it with the elegance she plays it.
A professional harpist from South America, Lebron has played at various concerts and delivered endless lectures on Paraguayan harps across the world. She recently started performing as an entertainer at 5-star hotels in Asia and in the Middle East. Lebr'f3n has a family background of music. Her mother was a concert performer, while her father loved the Paraguayan harp. She started her musical journey playing the piano at the age of 7. She then went on to study the harp for 11 years with great Paraguayan musicians such as Santiago Cortesi, Mar'eda Cristina G'f3mez and Nicol'e1s Caballero.
"I really didn't like the harp at the beginning but as I learned it I began to fall in love with it. The Paraguayan harp, which is the instrument I play, is also the national musical instrument of my country and it was but natural that I would develop a love for it," she said.
Lebr'f3n is a celebrated musician in her country and has played in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay, Canada, Germany, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa and other countries, most of the time on concert tours. She performs regularly in Paraguay, participating in the World Harp Festival since 2008. An elegant performer, she demonstrates the adaptability of the Paraguayan harp to all forms of music. In 2010, Lebr'f3n received the award for Outstanding Paraguayan Women from the Women's Federation for World Peace.
Besides being a professional harpist, she has a degree as a Sworn Translator in Spanish, English, German and Portuguese. After performing widely in Europe and South America, in 2010, she received a peace prize as an outstanding Paraguayan woman.
She moved to Qatar nearly four years ago and said that living in Doha was a most enriching experience for her."This place is very quiet and safe. Qatari people are very nice and well educated, and it seems they like my music," she said. She adds though that leaving her children behind was the toughest choice that she has ever had to make through her career."I can make money here, but also must pay a high price for leaving my children. Although they are already grown up, they were still little when I started travelling and I sometimes regret that," she said.
Lebron opines that just like any other instrument the harp takes years of practice to master. She said,"As we play with the nails, a harpist must have very strong nails."
Speaking about her biggest achievement till date she said there have been many but a few stand out."Like when I won the First Prize among 38 countries in Traditional Folk and the second prize in Artistic Folk at an international music contest in South Africa, representing my country. Another achievement is that my hands are printed at the Hall of Fame of Asunci'f3n. Another great satisfaction in my life was when I was invited by the Radio 'The Voice of Germany' to record and to give a lecture on Paraguayan Harp," she said.
Speaking about the biggest challenges of her career, she said,"I have had many challenges but being my own producer, without being affiliated to any recording company. I also would like to do concerts in other countries where I have not been until now, as solo performer or with my own band someday maybe."
Lebron who loves the Paraguayan Harp and music, said that she wishes to dabble in some classical tunes in the future.
Speaking about her love for Qatar, she said,"I am very grateful to this wonderful country, because it opened the doors to us expatriates to come here to work. I love Souq Waqif. I think you can feel the real spirit of the Middle East there."
She says over most weekends she spends time with the people of the Paraguayan Embassy in Qatar."While sometimes, I love to hit the sunny beaches of Qatar," she said.
Advice to people wishing to learn the instrument? She said,"They must love the instrument, and try to go to Paraguay, or at least, to take lessons with a Paraguayan harp teacher."
