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Houston Airport System
May 11, 2007
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© Houston Airport System
Robin Berry and Stephen Marq are bringing a new level of soothing to Houston's airports.
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Rhythms of nature, tunes of release and melodies of inspiration are just a few of the sounds offered by the stringed harmonies of Robin Berry and Stephen Marq’s music at Bush and Hobby airports.
These two veterans of the easy listening music genre are bringing a new ambience to the world of airport travel. Through their partnership with the Houston Airport System the forceful duo is using their individual sounds to relax and soothe the more than 51 million passengers that travel through Houston’s airports each year.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), somewhere between Terminal E and what many passengers describe as nirvana, Stephen Marq’s dancing fingers are the center of all attention. As they sway across the ivory keys of an elegant full grand piano travelers can’t help but to get lost in the mood.
Entire crowds stand still, baggage in toll and all, amazed at the innovation of bringing live music to the airports. Maria Herrera, a native of Malaga, Spain, was recently one of the enchanted travelers captivated by Marq’s sound.
“I’ve never seen something like this in an airport,” she says. “The way he plays is so soothing.”
For Marq, a lifelong connoisseur of the ivory keys, playing at IAH is all about bringing his music to the people. |
Although he has played in many concerts, he says nothing can compare to having a one-on-one conversation with his audience.
“The great thing about being in the airport in Houston, especially in the international area, is that I meet people from all over the world every single day I’m here,” he adds. “I tell other artists, I’m going on a world tour with my piano, without doing any traveling.”
Marq began playing the piano at the age of five and has been composing music since his early twenties. With nine recording albums under his belt now, the pianist explains that this process is often a cathartic experience.
“For me, there is no better way to express myself than on a piano. In each of my albums, I want the instrumental piano music to take the listener to who and what is important in (their) own life," he says.
IAH gives him a chance to connect with people. He’s received many email messages from passengers expressing their happiness and surprise at having run into him while they were passing through Houston. Most of them say his music inspires them and changes their mood for the better.
Harpist Robin Berry believes in the power of music.
At Houston’s second-largest airport, William P. Hobby, roughly 29 miles away from IAH, she is the one effortlessly running her fingers across the fine strings of her harp at the new Central Concourse.
"It is important that we remember to take time out of our busy and often hectic schedules to relax and unwind,” she explains about her composition. “I truly believe in the healing powers of music, and will continue to create harp music that calms the heart and soothes the soul."
Before coming to Houston earlier this year, Berry was living in Minneapolis. As a child she grew up with the musical influence of her father, a jazz musician, and with a deep appreciation for the harp. She always knew that was the instrument she was meant to play.
Convincing her to temporarily relocate into Houston was somewhat of a more difficult task.
“When I was first approached, I thought, no one is going to want harp music in Houston,” she now says. “I was wrong! My web sales have quadrupled from passengers who don’t have enough time to purchase my music at the airport. They take a business card so they won’t miss their plane and buy CDs from my website.”
Each week she sells at least 200 albums off of her website – that does not include the dozens of CDs Berry moves at Hobby Airport. A 30 year veteran of the harp, Berry has been making a living off of the harp for 13 years now. Her recording history includes 15 instrumental albums which she describes as very natural and inspirational.
Jesus Saenz, customer service manager for the Houston Airport System, describes Berry and Marq’s presence at the airports as part of the organization’s effort to make the travel experience as pleasant as possible for the traveling public.
“It’s a well known fact that music can help people relax, relieve stress and even put them in a better mood,” he says. “What better place to do this, than at the airport.”
If you haven’t had the chance to visit Bush or Hobby airports, you can listen to samples of Stephen Marq’s music at www.stephenmarq.com and Robin Berry’s music at www.harpland.com.
Copyright © 2007 - Houston Airport System
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