A ride in a gondola on a ski lift can be harrowing if you have a fear of heights. Couple that fear of heights with fear for your harp’s safety dangling above a mountain, and you have Madeline Olson’s experience in her winning #practicalharpist photo in this issue. Here are some of our other favorite photos from the last two months. Don’t forget to tag your harp life photos with the hashtag #practicalharpist so we can find you on social media!
Winner: Madeline Olson
@maddleos via Instagram
Caption: An acrophobe and a harp walk into a gondola…
Home: New York, New York
Age: 22
Occupation: first-year master’s student at the Juilliard School
What’s the story behind the photo? I’m very afraid of heights, and the gondola trip up to the summit of Aspen Mountain (where I was headed to play a wedding) takes about half an hour. I kept myself from freaking out by taking lots of pictures, and got this one in the process.
What is your hidden talent? I’m really good at building IKEA furniture.
What’s your favorite piece to play on the harp? Godefroid’s Etude de Concert in E-Flat Minor
What do you do to avoid practicing? Netflix. So much Netflix.
What is your favorite smartphone app? Seamless
What did you want to be when you were a kid? An engineer.
Runners Up
(Click any photo to enlarge and view slide show.)
-
- Caption: The best perspective. Dario Guidi @dario.guidi, Rome, Italy
-
- Elena Cacciagrano @elenapdlt; Abruzzo, Italy
-
- Caption: Harp yin-yang; Chloe Tula @chloetheharpist Miami Beach, Fla.
-
- Caption: So excited to be playing Die Walkure this evening with the RNSO at the Edinburgh International Festival; Zita Silva @zitasilvaharp London, England
-
- Caption: I left my harp in San Francisco. Sorry, couldn’t resist; Krista Strader @kristastraderharpist San Francisco, Calif.
-
- Caption: The other side of the story; Jadie Cheuk @jadiecheuk Hong Kong
