Native Texan, Kela Walton enjoys a varied career as a harp teacher and freelance performer based in her hometown of Arlington, TX. She began her musical journey at the age of five as a Suzuki piano student. By the age of eleven she finally convinced her parents to let her study harp, and it was love at first lesson.
An innovative educator, Kela serves on the faculty at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where she teaches both University and pre-college students. She embraces teaching with a fun and loving approach, and has maintained a private studio since 1998. She is a registered Suzuki harp instructor and draws from many methods to find the best approach for each individual student. In demand as a clinician, Kela has worked with harp students in ensembles and adjudicated competitions throughout the U.S. She co-directed the Youth Harp Ensemble at the 2016 American Harp Society, National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2014, Kela founded the harp program at Buffalo Suzuki Strings, where she taught individual and group harp lessons as well as Suzuki Early Childhood Education classes until 2018. Kela also previously held harp faculty positions at Temple College, Round Rock ISD, the University of Houston Moores School of Music Preparatory and Continuing Studies Program, Longhorn Music Camp, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Kela can be heard on the 2019 release Respighi: Roman Trilogy for the Naxos label, as well as several other recordings. She held the position of Interim Principal Harp with Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2017-18 season and toured internationally with the BPO in Poland. Kela has performed with orchestras throughout the U.S. including the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, Savannah Philharmonic, Temple Symphony, and Waco Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician Kela has premiered new works by award winning composers and was the harpist in residence with the Buffalo Chamber Players in New York. Other notable performances include engagements with the Brevard Music Center Chamber Series, Roberto Diaz, Warren Haynes, Al Jarreau, Vanessa Williams, and Victor Wooten. Kela enjoys enhancing private events with harp music, and previously held a four year position as the harpist at Austin's historic Driskill Hotel on 6th street for holiday brunches and high tea.
Kela Walton earned a Master of Music in Harp Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Houston Moores School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. Her harp instructors include former Houston Symphony principal harpist Paula Page, Gayle Barrington, and Nancy Hurrell. Kela is also an alumnus of the Salzedo School in Camden, Maine where she studied upon invitation with Alice Chalifoux, former principal harpist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Her Suzuki training includes coursework in early childhood education with Sharon Jones, and harp teacher development with Delaine Leonard. After realizing how much her yoga practice enhanced her life at the harp, Kela became certified in Dharma Yoga at the 300 hour level.
Kela's articles have been published in the Harp Column magazine and The American Harp Journal. Passionate about serving the harp community, Kela is a past Chairman of Board of Directors for the American Harp Society, and is currently co-chair for the 2027 AHS Harp Ensemble Festival in Texas. When not at the harp, she enjoys running, practicing yoga, and spending time with her nieces and nephew.
For a complete list of Kela's education, harp experiences, recordings, and published articles see her Curriculum Vitae.
An innovative educator, Kela serves on the faculty at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where she teaches both University and pre-college students. She embraces teaching with a fun and loving approach, and has maintained a private studio since 1998. She is a registered Suzuki harp instructor and draws from many methods to find the best approach for each individual student. In demand as a clinician, Kela has worked with harp students in ensembles and adjudicated competitions throughout the U.S. She co-directed the Youth Harp Ensemble at the 2016 American Harp Society, National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2014, Kela founded the harp program at Buffalo Suzuki Strings, where she taught individual and group harp lessons as well as Suzuki Early Childhood Education classes until 2018. Kela also previously held harp faculty positions at Temple College, Round Rock ISD, the University of Houston Moores School of Music Preparatory and Continuing Studies Program, Longhorn Music Camp, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Kela can be heard on the 2019 release Respighi: Roman Trilogy for the Naxos label, as well as several other recordings. She held the position of Interim Principal Harp with Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2017-18 season and toured internationally with the BPO in Poland. Kela has performed with orchestras throughout the U.S. including the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, Savannah Philharmonic, Temple Symphony, and Waco Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician Kela has premiered new works by award winning composers and was the harpist in residence with the Buffalo Chamber Players in New York. Other notable performances include engagements with the Brevard Music Center Chamber Series, Roberto Diaz, Warren Haynes, Al Jarreau, Vanessa Williams, and Victor Wooten. Kela enjoys enhancing private events with harp music, and previously held a four year position as the harpist at Austin's historic Driskill Hotel on 6th street for holiday brunches and high tea.
Kela Walton earned a Master of Music in Harp Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Houston Moores School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. Her harp instructors include former Houston Symphony principal harpist Paula Page, Gayle Barrington, and Nancy Hurrell. Kela is also an alumnus of the Salzedo School in Camden, Maine where she studied upon invitation with Alice Chalifoux, former principal harpist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Her Suzuki training includes coursework in early childhood education with Sharon Jones, and harp teacher development with Delaine Leonard. After realizing how much her yoga practice enhanced her life at the harp, Kela became certified in Dharma Yoga at the 300 hour level.
Kela's articles have been published in the Harp Column magazine and The American Harp Journal. Passionate about serving the harp community, Kela is a past Chairman of Board of Directors for the American Harp Society, and is currently co-chair for the 2027 AHS Harp Ensemble Festival in Texas. When not at the harp, she enjoys running, practicing yoga, and spending time with her nieces and nephew.
For a complete list of Kela's education, harp experiences, recordings, and published articles see her Curriculum Vitae.