Rocky Mountain Springs Harp Program

[John R Bernard]

Dear friends,

The summer harp program in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has a new name, “Rocky Mountain Springs Harp Program.” This newly independent entity was for seven years a division of Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory, a unique chamber music school which unites outstanding student musicians with professional mentors in an intensive, enjoyable program to develop young musicians as whole people.

Our alumni will be happy to know that RMS Harp Program will still cooperate with RMS Conservatory, joining them in meals, interdisciplinary classes (Remember eurhythmics, photography, tae kwon do?), outdoor activities, free public recitals, and other elements of RMSC’s outstanding program.

An independent RMSHP has several advantages:

A more convenient facility. RMSHP will be housed at Colorado Mountain College-Alpine Campus (which hosted RMSC for several years before the Conservatory moved to Lowell Whiteman School). CMC is handicap-equipped, with wide halls, ramps, and elevators. It is often useful to think of harpists as handicapped by their unwieldy instruments.

More flexible housing. If a late-applying harpist deserves admission, we can accept him or her without stealing a bed from a string student.

Simpler, more flexible administration. Removing one layer of necessary approval allows quicker response times, later deadlines, slightly lower costs (fees for application and registration are no longer necessary), and generally more adaptive decision-making.

None of these advantages would be worth losing contact with the remarkable collegial atmosphere of RMSC. Fortunately, RMSC Director Ernest Richardson and his staff allow continued collaboration.

Students working this summer with harp instructors Christa Grix of Michigan and Olive Bernard from Texas will include Lily, a nineteen-year-old from Stanford University; Danielle, also nineteen, of Bowling Green State University; Irys, seventeen, of La Jolla, California; and Sara, fourteen, of Dillon, Colorado. Danielle is the recipient of a partial scholarship honoring Lucile Lawrence. The new Dewey Owens Scholarship for younger students has not been awarded. Late applications are being processed; it is likely that five, six or seven fine student harpists will be studying and performing in Steamboat Springs this summer. Dates of the three-week session are July 15 through August 5, 2007.

Rocky Mountain Springs Harp Program is a nonprofit educational institution which admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or other school administered programs.

For further information, e-mail rms.harp@mac.com, telephone 806-355-8052, or write to Olive Bernard, 6202 Raintree Ct., Amarillo, TX 79119.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

It sounds like a wonderful program. What’s the best way to get to Steamboat Springs?

[John R Bernard]

Saul, Steamboat Springs is in the Northwest of Colorado, on US 40. The Interstate system (I thank heaven!) chose the general route of US 6 for the main transcontinental road across Colorado. So Steamboat escaped the degree of development which I think afflicts the I-70 corridor. Steamboat Springs is now off the main road.

That makes getting there a bit more challenging. By air, fly to Denver and then choose either a short flight (about one hour) across mountains to Yampa Valley Regional Airport, where we pick up some students, or a limo ride with Alpine Taxi (four hours to your exact destination).

Driving from Denver and points to the south and east, take I-70 to Dillon, Colorado Hwy 6 (I think it is) north to Kremling, where you rejoin US 40 west to Steamboat. From points north and east of Denver, and certainly for anyone who travels I-80 west to Laramie, Wyoming, there is a lovely cutoff from that city over a relatively low mountain pass into North Park (Walden is the main town there) and across to US 40 just where it starts up Rabbit Ears Pass. This is the route we take when loaded with rental harps from Colorado’s Front Range. It’s a little less strenuous on a heavily loaded van.

From the west and southwest there are numerous routes which might make sense. US 40 from Salt Lake City to Steamboat is an impressivly varied drive. If one seeks scenic routes, as opposed to relatively quicker routes, the options are really quite varied.

If you ever decide to come visit, we’ll talk specific routes.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

Do you provide the harps or do students bring their own?

[John R Bernard]

Saul-

Sorry for the delayed answer. A death in family has occupied my time and my mind.

Over the years we have found a limited number of harps which universities and harp stores in Colorado’s Front Range allow us to rent to students who cannot bring their own.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

I’m sorry to hear of it. Sounds like you have a wonderful arrangement, and I can’t wait to visit.

[John R Bernard]

Thank you, Saul. She was a beautiful young woman.

RMSHP would welcome harpist visitors. Despite my poor efforts, it seems to be unknown to most folks. This year we shall have students from California, Ohio, Alabama and Colorado. Dani, from Ohio, received a Lucile Lawrence scholarship, and Miriam, from Alabama, got the first Dewey Owens scholarship for younger students.

If you’re in the area, drop in; or if you let us know you’re coming, we might be more accommodating.

[Author]

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