Born on Miami Beach, she began taking piano lessons for several years
until she discovered the harp. When she was 15, she had the considerable
fortune to become a student of the late and great Edward Vito, soloist
and harpist under Toscanini. Stacey originally envisioned music education
as her future, and received a Bachelor of Music Education with honors
at the University of Miami. It was while she was studying classical
harp at the University of Miami that she had the opportunity to hear
some of the best Jazz musicians in the US. She began to improvise
and incorporate Miami’s melting pot of musical styles into her
playing. This led to her participation in the 1997 Lyon & Healy
International Pop & Jazz Competition at Monterey, California.
Her natural talent for combining rhythm and jazz harmony with emotional
interpretation was recognized with a first place win in this prestigious
competition.
Artists performing and recording in South Florida soon discovered
her talent. She has recorded with Rod Stewart, the Bee Gees, Lauryn
Hill, John Denver, KC & the Sunshine Band, Jose Feliciano, Braulio,
Nelson Ned, among others. She has performed in concert with Stevie
Wonder as a featured soloist, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett,
Perry Como, Melissa Manchester, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Mathis, Marvin
Hamlisch, Peter Allen, John Davidson, Anthony Newley, Steve Lawrence
& Edie Gorme and others.
Stacey formed a chamber group with her violinist partner, Miriam Stern,
called Serenade Ensemble, that regularly performs in South Florida.
A premier group, they have entertained Presidents, Governors, Foreign
leaders and dignitaries. The group is also in demand for recordings,
and in 2002, they were nominated for a Grammy for best Classical Crossover
album, ‘La Musica de Ernesto Lecuona’ by Enrique Chia,
the Cuban pianist.
Stacey found her greatest calling in jazz, world, and pop music. Her
debut CD, ‘On Top Of The World’ is a collection of smooth
jazz, latin and world music, performed with her band. This band is
a ‘Who’s Who’ of the top session musicians in Miami,
and includes Concord recording artist, Ed Calle on Sax. Stacey performed
at Harpfest 99 held at Belmont College, in Nashville TN, and she was
also featured at the 1999 World Harp Congress, Hilton Hotel, Prague,
Czech Republic and also gave a master class called ‘The Happening
Harp’. Stacey is passionate about performing live. She regularly
gives concerts with her all star Miami based band, and also enjoys
solo performance.
Hatha Yoga is an important part of Stacey’s life. She is a certified
Yoga instructor, and enjoys the symbiosis between music and yoga.
Her second CD, ‘Music to Soothe the Savage Beast’ was
inspired by the peace of mind that yoga offers.
She is currently working on her third CD with her husband, Tim Devine,
a well established producer and arranger for major recording artists.
Stacey never forgot who started her off on the harp. Every Friday
morning, her mother comes over for her harp lesson followed by yoga
class.