William Henry Channing wrote:
To seek elegance rather than luxury and refinement rather than fashion;
To be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich;
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;
To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages with open heart,
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions and hurry never,
. . . To let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is my symphony.

This too, was Clare Bender’s symphony. Clare started playing the piano at age eight and took violin lessons during the fourth and fifth grades. But after poking the girl next to her in the eye with her bow, she decided she wouldn’t be a violinist like her dad. It was in high school that Clare began playing the harp. She furthered her talents by taking harp and voice lessons at Brigham Young University, where she met her husband, Jerry. Their duet became a quartet with the addition of sons Jacob and Samuel. Clare later finished her degree at Centralia College.

Clare’s symphony included three movements that were repeated over and over again in all she did. They were her love of children, love of music, and love for her Savior. Each area always overlapped with the next. Clare’s love for music touched so many people as she used her gifts and talents. She played the harp in the symphony and in orchestras and she taught both piano and harp lessons. Listening to her play the harp was truly heaven on earth. Shortly before passing away on September 6, 2004, Clare sent her friend a plaque that reads, “Good friends are like angels; you don’t have to see them to know that they are there.” Although Clare’s mortal life has ended, her relationships, her influence, and her music continue. Clare’s symphony is eternal.