It was an inspiring summer at the Interlochen Arts Camp in high school which convinced Philadelphia native Emily Klein that making music was what she wanted to spend her life doing. A year later, Klein packed her bags for the Interlochen Arts Academy boarding school, and set off to begin a grand adventure. Now a freelance professional harpist in Houston, Klein embraces the unpredictable nature of freelance life.

Give us a little background on your harp upbringing and what you’ve been up to since graduating.

I completed my Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Harp Performance at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music with Paula Page, former principal harpist with the Houston Symphony.

While pursuing my master’s degree I got my feet wet teaching non-major harp students at Rice as well as beginner and intermediate harpists at a local middle school. I also had opportunities to perform as a substitute musician with notable ensembles around town: the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. By the time I completed graduate school, I had six years of “roots” established in Houston and have not left since.

I feel fortunate for the variety of work I have as a freelancer. My regular gigs include performing as principal harpist with Opera in the Heights (a local opera company) as well as teaching harp lessons at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (a public magnet high school in the heart of downtown Houston that boasts Beyoncé as an alum!) and at the American Festival of the Arts Summer Music Festival. In addition, I am a regular substitute with the Houston and San Antonio Symphony Orchestras and traveled with the Houston Symphony in March of 2018 for their European tour.

Treat every performance with the same high quality. You never know who is listening.

What’s the best thing about being a professional musician?

I love that everyday is a little bit different and challenges me to constantly learn and grow as a harpist and person. In that vein, being a professional musician and freelancer has encouraged me to seek out existing opportunities and to create new opportunities. Since graduating, I have worked with Da Camera of Houston, a two-year young artist program, which helped launch my Holocaust Music Project: a music presentation incorporating stories from my grandparents and the Holocaust. I have since received a grant from the American Harp Society, and continuing sponsorship from Da Camera to present the Project to middle and high school students.

I also founded the duo inFLUX Flute and Harp that presents quarterly performances at hospitals, art galleries, and assisted living facilities, and was recently awarded a “Let Creativity Happen!” grant by Houston Arts Alliance and the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. This grant will allow inFLUX to continue to enhance local communities through free public performances of classical music. I am really proud to be part of an organization that is dedicated to performing classical music to underserved audiences.

In addition to performing, I love teaching and have a private studio of 15 students. I am continuously learning from my students and am so glad that I have the opportunity to work with highly motivated kids.

What’s the hardest thing about being a professional musician?

Time management.

What did you want to do for a living when you were younger?

In middle and high school, I had a strong interest in learning about other cultures and especially enjoyed my history, art, and music classes. I thought it would be fun to be an anthropologist or archaeologist.

What is one thing you have learned since graduating that you wish you had known while you were in school?

Behind every success you have, there are numerous failures that show you have challenged yourself to be the best version of what you are doing. This is something I learned while in high school, and like to remind myself of from time to time.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day is a little bit different. On a lighter teaching day I will have more time to practice or take care of errands. When Opera in the Heights is in season, my evenings will be occupied by rehearsals several times a week. I also recently started a new job at Intercontinental Airport Houston performing as part of a program called “Harmony in the Air.” I try to keep at least one day a week free of teaching but that is not always possible if I have an especially busy rehearsal schedule subbing with the Houston Symphony or performing with new music ensembles. I am more of a night owl so evening practice is my preference but I’ll squeeze in the hours where I can.

What skills are most valuable to have as a freelancer?

Be kind to everyone you meet in any work setting. Treat every performance with the same high quality. You never know who is listening. Respond ASAP to work inquiries. More often than not, the early bird catches the worm. Be on time to all work engagements. Market yourself. Stay organized with a calendar. Foster a network of harp colleagues and other instrumentalists while you are in and out of school. These are your colleagues and friends. My teacher at Rice University, Paula Page, cultivated a strong community amongst all of her harp students and that support network has continued within my professional life.

Network and pursue hobbies with non-musicians. A great exercise I was asked to do in a professional development class in graduate school was to make a list of everyone I knew in Houston and to notate whether these people fell within my immediate circle, secondary circle, and on the periphery. This allowed me to see the size of my network and how I would consider networking with these people once I graduated from my program. Once I graduated, I realized I had been very insulated while in school and made it my goal to cultivate friendships outside of school life.

How do you improve your playing when so much time is required for the rest of your work life?

If I have a big performance or audition that requires a good chunk of practice time, I will rearrange my schedule. For example I will sacrifice evening time dedicated to relaxing to stay on top of emails. I try to improve my playing by programming new music for my flute and harp duo to perform, and I add at least one new classical solo into the mix every couple of months. Luckily, outside of my background music gigs, the performances I am hired to do require a high level of preparation, so I am constantly being challenged to learn new repertoire and keep my chops up.

How do you use social media to help your business without it mucking up your life?

Soon after graduating with my master’s degree, I created a business Facebook page to keep my personal and professional accounts separate as well as creating an (almost) harp-only Instagram account. I limit posting on my personal page and enjoy using the iPhone’s Screen Time feature which allows me to set a 30-minute time limit on my social media apps.

What music are you listening to right now?

Houston is a driving city, so when I’m in the car I like to put on SiriusXM’s 60s or 70s channel.

What’s the best thing you’ve done to get more gigs?

Anytime I play at a new venue I introduce myself to the event coordinator or head of operations and hand out a few business cards. I always tag and promote whatever gig I am performing at on social media. I’d like to think that businesses and arts organizations relish the harp photo “advertisement.” If you are in demand and the business is in demand from your gig picture, it is a win-win situation.

What is your elevator pitch to young harpists who think they want to do music for a living?

Speak to a professional freelancer, music educator, music therapist, and orchestral musician before making this decision. Have a discussion with your guardian about financial planning as well. It’s so important to have a grasp of the full picture before deciding how you are going to live and support yourself after you graduate from college. One thing I remember a teacher saying in high school was, if you can always find joy in what you are doing it will never feel 100% like work.

What is the next thing you’re planning to do to build your business?

I would like to pursue non-profit status for my duo, inFLUX Flute and Harp, so that we can continue to apply for grants that will allow us to expand our performances to new audiences.