Marian Mihas

April 25, 2015
By LINDA M. LINONIS - religion@vindy.com - HOWLAND

The concert grand harp plays a dominant role on Marian Mihas’ debut CD, “The Lord Reigns: Songs & Hymns To Live By.”

The Christian singer and harpist said she “fell in love” with the sound of the instrument when her sister was taking a lesson. Mihas was interested in music since her childhood. “I starting taking piano lessons when I was 4 years old and had my first recital at 5,” she recalled.

The singer will be showcased in a free CD-release concert at 7 p.m. today at Greek Apostolic Church of Pentecost, 1743 North Road NE, Warren.

The event will feature a unique sing-along with Mihas playing the harp. She explained that at church concerts, which often feature well-known hymns, people can’t help but want to sing. “The audience is accustomed to singing in church,” she said. “It will be an acoustic experience.”

Mihas said words to selections will be shown on screens.

The singer said she has been drawn to Christian music since she was a child. “I’ve always been involved in choirs and have a lot of background in that area,” she said. “The music is special to me.”

Mihas said the experience of singing in choirs “left an impression.”

“I think the words of hymns are so powerful,” she said. “They leave an impression on the heart and are life-giving.”

Church was a place to sing to God, she said. “I have background there — singing in choirs. It always has been special to me.”

The singer said she believes Christian music “speaks to people’s hearts” because words and meaning from Scripture are part of the music.

Mihas said she doesn’t come from a musical family. “My dad [the late Tom Mihas] had a beautiful singing voice,” she said, but “we’re not a family of musicians.” Her mother, Jeannie Mihas, lives in Howland.

Mihas brings wide-ranging experience to her debut CD. Since 1996, she has been active locally and abroad as a classically trained soprano. She was the soprano soloist in the “Messiah” from 1997-2005 in Warren under the direction of John Kurtz. She also performed in recitals in Europe with repertoire from the American songbook at the Parnassos Concert Hall in Athens, Greece, and at the American College of Greece. She also has performed as a soloist throughout the United States, Switzerland and Russia and as the featured soloist and narrator at various churches and musical productions.

Since 1997, she has taught general music and technology classes to first- through eighth-grade students in the Jefferson PK-8 building of Warren City Schools. She also directs elementary music programs.

On her debut CD, Mihas plays the concert grand harp and sings. The CD was recorded in Nashville, Tenn., and produced and arranged by Don Hart, a composer and arranger who lives in Nashville.

It is being released by the indie label Living Hope. - The Vindicator

April 23, 2015
By ANDY GRAY - Tribune Chronicle (agray@tribtoday.com)

Marian Mihas brings together two of her musical passions on her debut CD.

Mihas is a classically trained soprano who as performed as a soloist in the United States, Europe , Greece, Switzerland and Russia. Locally, she was the soprano soloist for the Warren Civic Chorus' production of Handel's "Messiah" from 1997 to 2005 under the direction of John Kurtz.

However, she didn't start playing the harp until she was 28, after she'd already been singing professionally for several years.

"I was going to one of my sister's lessons," Mihas said. "What happened is, listening in the other room, I fell in love with the sound of the harp."

"The Lord Reigns: Songs & Hymns to Live By" features Mihas' voice and harp playing on a mix of original songs and traditional hymns. She will play a CD release concert Saturday at Greek Apostolic Church of the Pentecost in Warren.

Mihas, who teaches music and technology at Jefferson PK-8 School in Warren, said the CD has been in the works for a couple years.

Fact Box

If you go ...

WHAT: CD release concert by Marian Mihas

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Greek Apostolic Church of Pentecost, 1743 North Road NE, Warren

HOW MUCH: Admission is free.

"I really wanted to work in Nashville, go down there and work with some of the musicians and producers and studios," she said. "I heard samples online from producer Don Hart (and thought) I think I'm going to send him an email. I said I love the songs you've arranged and would like to talk to you about my music."

Hart is the composer in residence with Orchestra Nashville and has worked with such artists as Suzy Boggess, Matraca Berg and Chris Tomlin.

Mihas made a couple of trips to Nashville, but she also was able to do some of the work from home, which incorporated her technology background.

"There's no way to do an album in Nashville if it wasn't for technology, being able to send files and listen to them and respond. It's doable in this day and age to live in Warren, have contacts in Nashville and get a high-quality project done."

Mihas wrote the title track for "The Lord Reigns" as well as "Wondrous Love," which incorporates elements of the hymns "What Wondrous Love Is This," "The God of Abraham Praise" and "Leoni." The other four songs are gospel favorites and/or songs she believes deserve greater attention.

"Probably the hardest decision was deciding what to record," Mihas said. "There are so many songs I wanted to record. I wish I could do all of them.

"I wanted to showcase my songwriting, and I wanted to do songs that appeal not just as worship songs but as great music The hymns I grew up in church singing. They are hymns of faith that have stood the test of time."

Those attending the CD release concert can expect to the songs from the album, and Mihas also plans to get the audience involved.

"I'm thinking about maybe doing a little sing along," she said. "I've gone to so many Christian concerts, and after sitting there for a while, 'Wow, I'd love to participate.' We're singers. How often do you get to sing along to a harp?"

The CD will be available at the concert, and Mihas hopes to make it available at area Christian bookstores. It also can be purchased digitally through www.cdbaby.com and will be available through iTunes and other digital platforms soon. - The Tribune Chronicle

May 1, 2015

In addition, Marian Mihas will be guest harpist at the service. Mihas is a Christian recording artist, harpist and singer. She was the soprano soloist in “Messiah” with the Warren (Ohio) Civic Chorus from 1997 to 2005.

She also has performed in Europe at the historic Parnassos Concert Hall in Athens, Greece, and the American College, and she has been a soloist throughout the United States, Switzerland and Russia.

Mihas recently released a CD called “The Lord Reigns: Songs & Hymns to Live By.”

She will sing songs from her CD while playing her concert grand harp to a musical track of strings, piano, guitar and percussion in a musical style that transcends genres. - Washington Observer Reporter