Gwyneth Wentink was named harp professor at Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam, Netherlands. “I am extremely excited to be appointed at Codarts. It is an honor to be part of the lineage of harpists that have inspired so many musicians over decades, including Rosa Spier, Phia Berghout, Edward Witsenburg, and Erika Waardenburg,” says Wentink. “These visionaries have created a harp tradition that is, in my opinion, extremely adventurous, innovative, and outspoken.” Founded in 1930 as an school for music, dance, and circus arts, Codarts is a vocational university that is known for its tradition of celebrating the dynamic array of artistic pursuits. “It holds an incredible world music department, with the legendary Hariprasad Chaurasia as head of the Indian department. Jazz, pop, music therapy, exchanges with Erasmus University—many ingredients to spark students’ imagination and curiosity.”
Wentink performing with electronics during an audio visual performance, “In Code”
Known for her own interdisciplinary pursuits, Wentink says she “feels at home” in such an environment. “We live in such a dynamic time, and as it has always done, I believe the arts play a crucial role. Our societal responsibility is obvious. As our ways of communicating as people and artists expand by the day, we ought to keep evaluating and sometimes redesigning our ways of listening, responding, and participating as artists.”
Her students agree. Elsbeth Verheij, a current harp student at Codarts, says, “In an interdisciplinary environment, you learn that good music is not bound to a certain genre; it comes in all forms and styles. It broadens your horizon and challenges your creativity.” While classical music is at the root of the Codarts harp studio, Wentink says, “Whether a student wants to focus more on world music, therapy, collaborating with dancers or scientists is all something to discover along the way.”
Subscribe to Harp Column today to see the March/April 2000 issue that features Wentink or check out her May 2018 Q and A here. Visit her website at http://gwynethwentink.com/.
