Evans named September’s Artist of the Month

BY Pat Van Dyke

Canyon Lake resident Kylene Evans was named September’s Artist of the Month by Art Council Menifee. The 10th grader started playing the harp at the age of seven. Photo provided by Michelle Evans

Canyon Lake resident Kylene Evans was named September’s Artist of the Month by Art Council Menifee. The award was given as Kylene has been a vital part of the Art Council Menifee’s mission to encourage the arts through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity.

At the age of three, Kylene began her journey into music as she sat in church and heard a harp played for her first time. She was intrigued by the instrument and for her 7th birthday, her parents gifted her with a 28-string Celtic harp.

As Kylene perfected her talent, her harps grew larger. For her 10th birthday, her parents gave her a 36-string lever harp and this past April, she became the proud owner of a 47-string grand concert pedal harp.

Many Canyon Lake residents are very familiar with the talents of Kylene.  She has blessed locals with her beautiful harp arrangements at many community events. Yearly, Kylene performs at Canyon Lake’s National Day of Prayer. She and her harp have also appeared at several Veterans Day presentations, Nancy Horton’s Christmas Tea and most recently at the Canyon Lake Choraleers’ presentation of the music of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Kaylene remembers with fondness one particular year that she played for Canyon Lake’s Veterans Day’s Celebration. Kylene recalls that day as a very cold and windy day. “I remember I couldn’t use my fingers properly because it was so cold. I learned that day to use gloves with the fingers cut off at the tips.”

Kylene is an asset to Canyon Lake Community Church with her willingness to provide musical interludes at various functions such as memorial services, graduations, baptisms, women’s events and luncheons. When not playing the harp, Kaylene helps with the children in daycare and in Children’s Place for Celebrate Recovery.

In the neighboring community of Menifee, Kylene has performed for several art shows and in May played the prelude for Menifee’s Got Talent Show. She also has played for the patients at the Life Care Center of Menifee. In February 2020, she will be performing at the United Methodist Church’s Couples Dinner.

When asked why she works so diligently to perfect her skill, Kylene shares, “I love to play for people. Sometimes God puts in on my heart just to ask someone if they would like me to play for them. The harp brings peace and comfort to those who may be emotionally sad, spiritually drained, or physically hurt.”

Kylene has been actively taking harp lessons from Lauren Arasim for the past eight years and continues to refine her skills while in high school by practicing 15 to 20 hours a week. Currently, Kylene is in the 10th grade, but she does have enticing dreams. She plans to go to college and major in music. She desires to travel the world as a harpist. Kylene is already well on her way to achieving her goal.