Harpist Rachel Lee Hall has been chosen as one of the six winners of the Astral Artists 2017 National Auditions. Each year, following a rigorous selection procedure, a select pool of musicians is invited to the Astral National Auditions in Philadelphia, where they compete in a series of live audition rounds and interviews. Only three other harpists have managed to attain this valuable prize in previous years: Caroline Cole, Emily Levin, and Bridget Kibbey.
Astral promises to support the careers of their winners for up to four years through a mentorship program, concert programming, and community outreach. According to their website: “Astral develops talented, rising-star classical musicians with the potential for major solo or chamber music careers. We serve as a crucial link between the conservatory and the real world by making a long-term commitment to our artists’ professional and artistic growth.”
Hall was also the 2013 Lyon & Healy Award winner. She has performed as principal harpist with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and the New River Valley Orchestra. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Harp Performance with a minor in Dalcroze Eurhythmics from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She will appear in the Astral National Auditions Winners Concerts this fall, October 10-12, 2017.
