Florida State University (FSU) has appointed Noël Wan as Assistant Professor of Harp and Entrepreneurship, starting fall 2022. Wan replaces Mary Brigid Roman as FSU’s harp professor, but her joint appointment of harp and entrepreneurship is a new position. We reached out to Wan to find out more about her plans for teaching at FSU.
What specialized skills or interests do you bring to the position at Florida State University?
Besides bringing broad knowledge of classical harp repertoire and technique (having studied with teachers from many different schools of harp playing), I bring some additional perspectives inspired by my academic interests. First, I work with intersectional pedagogical methods which are grounded in a combination of 20th-century Western philosophy, cultural studies, and contemporary trends in music education. However, my primary research areas include gender, race, and performance studies—applied both to the Western pedal harp tradition and other musical areas—so I’m especially looking forward to working with doctoral students who want to explore those topics.
What are your goals as a teacher at FSU?
One of my main goals as a teacher at FSU is emphasizing musical excellence under principles of diversity, inclusion, and equity. So, while my students would learn standard solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoire and develop strong ensemble skills, I would also encourage them to explore contemporary repertoire, repertoire by BIPOC composers, or repertoire that crosses genres. I also see diversity and inclusion as encouraging students to explore their artistic voices in a safe and supportive space. I hope to establish an environment of trust and reciprocity with and between my students; to instill a lifetime love of the harp; to encourage bold creative pursuits; and to mentor students in ways that balance mental health and professional success.
What are you most looking forward to in your new position?
I look forward to making FSU my long-term creative home, where I will have the support to work on unique projects and collaborations. I am also excited to build a robust network of harpists in and around the Tallahassee area and to bring in world-class harpists to share their expertise at the College of Music. Moreover, I am honored to continue the work of Mary Brigid Roman, the outgoing harp professor, in making FSU a premier institution for harp study. Finally, I look forward to being part of the music entrepreneurship cohort and working alongside my colleagues to create an exciting new curriculum focusing on the needs of the 21st-century musician.
To learn more, visit Wan’s website.
