About JPG Harp Connections
JPG Harp Connections is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 to INSPIRE, SUPPORT, and EDUCATE harpists while honoring the life and legacy of Jan Pennington Gray.
Jan grew up in a musical family and discovered the harp at age 10. By 12, she owned her first harp and went on to win numerous Scottish Games competitions. She found her greatest joy playing for patients at Memorial Hospital, where she later joined the staff, believing deeply in the healing power of music.
After Jan’s passing at age 28, her parents, Jo and Jim Pennington, created the Jan Pennington Gray Harp Scholarship Fund—now JPG Harp Connections—to continue the connections she began. The organization now offers scholarships, hosts the annual JPG Harp Confab, supports the Chattanooga Harp Ensemble, and participates in Music for Healing.
We continue to grow Jan’s legacy by creating opportunities for harpists to learn, connect, and share their music with others.
2026 Board of Directors
Jody Burch, Director
Jeanne Eller, President
Deborah Hammock, Director
Tricia Ging, Secretary
Lynn Petras, Director
Sue Powell, Treasurer
Martha Summa-Chadwick, Director
James W. Pennington, Founder
The two people you see above are our founders, Jo & Jim Pennington, the parents of Jan Pennington Gray.