I first met Joris Beets when he came to the Dutch Harp Festival in 2014 to show off his new invention – the Delta harp. Since then, I've seen the instrument gradually gain attention in the harp world, eventually even winning over Salvi harps. Just recently, they...
When news broke late last month that Pat Terry-Ross won the prestigious Kresge Foundation Eminent Artist Award, word spread like wildfire through the harp community. Pat is a familiar figure in both the harp world and the Detroit arts community, having spent her...
Vancouver harpist Elisa Thorn came onto our radar when we noticed a writeup about her a few weeks ago in the Vancouver Sun. Thorn has just released "Hue," an improvisational recording based on the paintings of her father, Bruce Thorn. Thorn was drawn to creative...
With the recent improvement in relations between the U.S. and Cuba, travel for U.S. citizens to our island neighbor just south of Florida is finally becoming a realistic possibility. Cut off for over 50 years due to political tensions dating back to the Cold War, Cuba...
Unless you've been living under a rock—or spending too much time practicing— you've probably heard of the rock band Florence and the Machine. And if you have any interest at all in the harp (which you probably do or you wouldn't be here at Harp Column), you may have...
As harpist with the The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own," Staff Sergeant Nadia Pessoa's harp life surely qualifies as one of the most interesting and diverse you will encounter. At first glance her job may seem like that of any other freelancer playing for...
Anyone who follows harp competitions will recognize the name Emily Mitchell from her first prize win at the 7th International Harp Contest in Israel. Since then, Mitchell has concertized throughout the world, as well as having an active career as a studio musician,...
What's a freelance harpist with a calendar full of teaching, performing, and freelancing through the N.Y.C. region do with extra time on their hands? The answer—if you're Diane Michaels—is to write that novel you've always dreamed of. And what better topic for a...
Northern Ireland singer Gerard Carroll is the first to admit that taking up the harp started out as only a hobby. But now that his "Shut up and Dance" video has gone viral—gaining the attention of Mashable, Belfast Telegraph, and others—Carroll says he may "take...
If you're on Facebook and you're a harpist, chances are pretty good you caught a glimpse of British harpist Oliver Wass in his video performance of Manuel de Falla's "Spanish Dance" posted two weeks ago by Classic FM radio. The socks. The red socks! Who among us...
