Meet Madeline Cawley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Cawley.

Hi Madeline, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I graduated with my Masters in classical flute performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2020 and promptly moved to Nashville. You remember what was going on during 2020 – not the best time to begin a performing career! In September of that year, I played what I intended to be a one-time chamber music concert for close friends and family in my hometown, Birmingham, AL.

One month later, I formed Harvest Arts, LLC. Now organizing and playing concerts is my full-time job! I have always been passionate about music and the arts, but I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to live such a dynamic life, forging my path and creating something new within the industry of classical music. But here we are, and it was all necessitated by the need to adapt to the particular challenges of the time. I am abundantly thankful!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Beginning a performing arts company in 2020 was far from easy; however, we started small and were able to adapt to the unusual circumstances and challenges. For example, there were capacity restrictions for venues in the early days of Covid, so we had limited tickets available and we set up the audience chairs spaced far apart. There were countless roadblocks, but I am so thankful for the many people who came along beside me and helped me meet and overcome each challenge.

My faith in God has spurred me on, especially in the hard times. There have been so many moments when I thought, “This is just too difficult, maybe it is time to do something else,” but I believe that this is the work he is calling me to do, and it is important and meaningful.

Just when I am at my most discouraged, he sends me some form of encouragement that pushes me to keep going. And I am so thankful I have kept going! I could have never dreamed Harvest Arts would have become what it already is in only 3 years, and I am so excited and hopeful to continue on this journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a classically trained flutist and am the Creative & Artistic Director of Harvest Arts, LLC. The mission of Harvest Arts is to provide beautiful artistic works and experiences for the increased flourishing of our community for the glory of God. In 2020, when we first started presenting events, they were flute-and-harp duo concerts accompanied by a gallery of artwork I painted, a true hybrid arts experience. Today, we play either a harp quintet (flute, harp, violin, viola, and cello) or a flute-and-strings quartet of all original arrangements that I created.

The arrangements blend Classical masterpieces with beloved hymns, which elevate the hymns to high art and make the Classical music accessible to a wider range of audiences who may not typically attend a Classical concert. I also arrange hymns in Irish jig/folk style to create changes in style during the concerts. Since I have started arranging, I do not have much time to paint, but I do still display some artwork at the concerts. We do not have a permanent brick-and-mortar business, we tour! Since we are a relatively nascent company, we have only traveled to areas of Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida, but we have exciting plans for Spring 2024 to travel coast to coast with this concert, called “Hymn Tour”!

At all of our concerts except “Classy Christmas Concert”, we have had at least a flute and harp, so our loyal audiences have come to expect to see the harp. It is a novelty instrument, and most people do not have the opportunity to hear one except when they attend an orchestra concert. In a chamber music setting, which is more intimate, it is special for the audience to sit close to one in action. I will say they are a bit of a pain to take on the road (we call it “moving the furniture”), but it is worth it. I started playing with harp in 2019 when I met harpist Hannah Johnson in graduate school at the New England Conservatory.

We competed in and won the school’s concerto competition playing the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto, and we have played together ever since. I am so thankful for her and for all of the incredible musicians who have come to work with Harvest Arts and brought this music to life!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Perseverance. So much of my success I cannot take credit for, God has provided so many opportunities and people who have come alongside me and helped me to get where I am today; however the road has not been easy, it has been uphill the entire way.

But that is how life is for everyone, life is hard! We all have a choice to make when the going gets tough: are you going to give up because it is difficult, or are you going to continue, making the next right decision based on the information you have? In my experience, the best things this life has to offer are on the other side of hardships. The beautiful flower that Harvest Arts has bloomed into is living proof of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.harvestartsllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvestartsllc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@harvestartsllc2430