Following the hire of Sergio Ruiz as director of the Glenn Korff School of Music, University of Nebraska–Lincoln has established a new harp program with Mary Bircher as harp faculty. “I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to build a harp department at the...
Following the retirement of Elinor Niemisto, Rachel Brandwein was appointed harp professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. “The talent of St. Olaf’s students is well–known locally as well as nationally, and it will be a delight to work with serious students...
Syrian harpist Basel William Sara died in Orbero, Sweden on June 13, 2019. Basel Sara began his musical studies in childhood as a piano student. While studying law at the University of Damascus, his love of music was so great that he left his law program to focus on...
Kim Robertson has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 Somerset Folk Harp Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Celebrated for forging her own path as a folk harpist, Robertson is a diverse performer, arranger, and recording artist. "It’s an honor to receive an...
Heaven Fan has been selected to join the faculty at University of Notre Dame beginning this fall. "I am thrilled to be part of this world–renowned institution," says Fan. "The music department at University of Notre Dame not only offers students extensive training by...
The 11th USA International Harp Competition took place July 3–13, 2019. Look for our interview with the Gold Medal winner in an upcoming issue of Harp Column. July 13, 2019 Following the final stage, which took place July 13, the 11th USA International Harp...
Alis Huws has been named the official harpist to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. The sixth harpist to hold the title since Prince Charles reinstated the position in 2000, Huws succeeds Anne Denholm, who was appointed in 2015. Previous harpists occupying the...
Laura Sherman has been appointed to the faculty of Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. As a full–time lecturer in harp and music theory beginning this fall, Sherman will also teach a class on Bach for graduate students. "I am excited to teach at the...
Following 27 years with Minnesota Orchestra, Kathy Kienzle will retire from her role as principal harpist in August 2020. "It has been a huge privilege for me to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra as their principal harpist since 1993. There have been many, many...
Following an audition that took place June 17–19, Katherine Siochi was selected as the principal harpist for the Kansas City Symphony. "I'm super excited to be joining such an incredible orchestra and to perform in their gorgeous hall," says Siochi. With a 42–week...
The Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced a harp audition scheduled to take place Sept. 29—Oct. 4, 2019, following the retirement of principal harpist, Lou Anne Neill. Under the direction of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, the orchestra presents over 250 concerts...
Caroline Wilkins has been named concert artist for the American Harp Society, following the national competition that took place June 16–19 in Winston–Salem, N.C. The competition included 43 finalists competing in five divisions for scholarship awards totaling over...
Welcome to Harp Column Podcasts, where we go behind the stories in Harp Column with host Kristina Finch. In this episode, Kristina talks to Julie and Andreas, whose With the Sky in Our Hands recording received a perfect 10 in ourMay-June 2019 issue. For more practical...
Matthew Tutsky was selected as principal harpist with the New Mexico Philharmonic following an audition held on June 6. "I’m thrilled to join New Mexico Philharmonic as their principal harpist," Tutsky says. "The orchestra is playing some great repertoire this season,...
Molly Langr was named acting principal harpist with the Boise Philharmonic for the 2019–2020 season, following an audition on May 27. The first round was screened, with two competitors advancing to the finals. Currently a graduate student at Rice University, Langr...
After three rounds of auditions on May 31, Haley Rhodeside was selected as the new principal harpist of the Orlando Philharmonic. This is the second audition the orchestra hosted for this position, with the jury voting not to hire following two harpists' trials last...
Rachel Lee Hall won the 2019 Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Concerto Competition after performing Ginastera's harp concerto with the symphony on June 1. Hall won $25,000 and a repeat performance with the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall on July 10. The finals included fellow...
Brandee Younger's new album, Soul Awakening, was recently featured on NPR. Reviewed by Nate Chinen, the article summarizes her musical trajectory, saying, "Younger, 35, has spent much of the last dozen years in a state of arrival, or maybe a process of emergence....
The results of the the first Pratté International Harp Competition have been announced. Held May 10–11 in Norrköping, Sweden as part of the Pratté International Festival, first prize was awarded to Iván Bragado Poveda of Spain. Italy's Claudia Lucia Lamanna took home...
Iván Bragado Poveda is the new principal harpist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Held May 15 in Tallinn, 15 harpists competed over two rounds. In addition to 10 orchestra excerpts, harpists were asked to prepare both the Spohr Fantasie and...
about the author
