A little about Susan...

 
"I love playing the harp." 


     I am thrilled to be back in Texas as an Austin Harpist!

I fell in love with the instrument at my very first lesson and haven't stopped since. My first professional harp jobs were playing for my older sister's friends' weddings while I was still in high school and since that time I have enjoyed helping to make a couple's day the best it can be. While in my teens I had the thrill of playing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Later, as I continued to play solo harp for more corporate events, weddings and memorials I found that I simply enjoy providing lovely and affordable live harp music at all types of occasions. I particularly enjoy accommodating special requests for pop music.

     My professional career spans several states from Texas to Chicago, IL to Washington State, with the majority of my career in the Seattle area playing for high end corporate venues. I have also performed on stage with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Jr., Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Jordan Smith (from The Voice), Peabo Bryson, Anita Baker, Jeffrey Osborne and Roberta Flack.  Although the majority of my work is solo, I perform both live and in recording studios with small ensembles and  can accompany a vocalist of your choosing,

     Now back in Austin, Texas, I maintain an active harp and piano teaching studio to help make "making music" fun for all ages, both in person and on-line video lessons remotely.  
  
      I am the proud owner of eight harps. It's a special kind of addiction. The one you see pictured on this website is the one I travel with for special events.  It is a one of a kind Lyon and Healy style 100 pedal harp in ebony and gold.  My smaller harps serve as instruction harps in my teaching studio or as rentals for my students. They also accompany me to hospitals and hospices to play healing music for patients and their families. 


 "Have harp will travel" is a common motto of mine and I travel all over the region to play both indoor and outdoor venues.

     My training was with Julia Hermann Edwards at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Gail Horne Barrington at The University of Texas at Austin.  Over the years, I have participated in master classes and workshops with internationally recognized harpists such as Deborah Henson-Conant, Paul Baker, Stella Castellucci, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz and Mildred Dilling to keep my skills current.

     I served on the Board of Officers for years with the Seattle Chapter of The American Harp Society and am a member of the local Austin Harp Society, The Austin District Music Teacher's Association and The World Harp Congress.

    Contact me at susan@soloharp.com or by completing the Contact Form. Reach me in Austin, Texas at 512-766-4166

 To learn more about me and my music, please visit this BLOG  featuring an