Blog News - Kela Walton - Kela Walton

Congratulations to AHS National Competition Finalist!

5/30/2025

TCU first year student IsabellaGrace competed in the finals of the American Harp Society's National Competition in the Intermediate II Division at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. She began preparing the music over a year ago, submitted a video for the preliminary round in March and was selected to be a finalist in April. She received an honorable mention today, and you can watch her performance in the competition live-streamed on YouTube here.
(She is contestant C and her performance begins at 8:00:10 in the video.)

Congratulations IsabellaGrace on all your hard work and a beautiful performance in the competition!

The TCU Harp Ensemble Presents "Texas Connections"

4/13/2025

We were honored to have composers and arrangers Jeff Walters (left) and Cindy Horstman (right) in attendance!

The TCU Harp Ensemble and TCU Music Preparatory harp students presented an afternoon of harp music exploring our Texas connections. The concert featured works for harp ensemble composed and arranged by Texans, as well as music about springtime, nature, and of course Texas! The program included original compositions and arrangements by Gayle Barrington, Whit Dudley, Tasha Smith Godinez, Cindy Horstman, Mary Radspinner, Louise Trotter, Jeff Walters, and more.

Click here to watch the performance on YouTube
Click here to view the PDF program

Christmas with the TCU Harp Ensemble

12/3/2024

On December 2nd and 3rd the TCU Harp Ensemble directed by Kela Walton performed holiday favorites in the lobby prior to the 3rd Annual Christmas Festival at TCU.

Click on the video to hear an excerpt from Carol of the Bells performed by TCU first year students IsabellaGrace and Silvia.

TCU Harp Ensemble presents 2nd Annual "Harp-o-ween Concert"

10/27/2024

This afternoon the TCU Harp Ensemble celebrated the music of the Allhallowtide season with our 2nd annual "Harp-o-ween" recital featuring Music Preparatory harp students and the TCU Harp Ensemble. The program included mystical and mysterious melodies by Gounod, Salzedo, and more. As you can see we dressed to impress!
Click here to watch the performance on YouTube
Click here to view the PDF program

TCU Faculty Present "Music at the Modern"

10/26/2024

This afternoon TCU Music Faculty performed a concert of new music at the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth. The performers pictured above from left to right included: Elisabeth Adkins, Michael Bukhman, Edward Newman, Heather Test, Clay Garrett, and myself. I performed 3 short solo works: Fraîcheur by Carlos Salzedo, Unrest: I by Brandee Younger, and Letter d'amour by Megan Metheney. It was an honor to share the stage with such amazing musicians and to perform in this beautiful space!

TCU Summer Harp Workshop 2024

7/10/2024

Congratulations to all of the participants in the TCU Summer Harp Workshop! It was so much fun to work with these five fantastic young Harpists over the past three days in masterclasses, harp ensemble rehearsals, and movement classes. I'd like to add thank you to TCU Music Education major and our intern Allison for all of her assistance at the workshop, and to Dr. Paul Cortese for many of the photos!

TCU Harp Ensemble presents "Harp & Friends"

4/24/2024

This evening the TCU Harp Ensemble presented and eclectic evening of harp music by our composer friends as well as performances with special guests. The program included jazz originals by Cindy Horstman, cosmic inspirations by Julia Kay Jaimeson, French impressions by Megan Metheney, and more.
Click here to watch the performance on YouTube
Click here to view the PDF program

TCU Harp Ensemble presents "A Harp-o-ween Concert"

10/30/2023

This evening the TCU Harp Ensemble celebrated the music of the Allhallowtide season with a recital featuring Music Preparatory harp students, and the TCU Harp Ensemble. The program included arrangements by TCU alumna Nancy Hurrell and by several of the performers to celebrate Halloween, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day and all things Autumnal. As you can see we dressed to impress!

Click here to watch the performance on YouTube
Click here to view the PDF program

TCU Summer Harp Workshop 2023

7/8/2023

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the TCU Summer Harp Workshop! It was so much fun to work with seven amazing Young Harpists over the past three days in masterclasses, harp ensemble rehearsals, and movement classes. Huge thank you to TCU Music Education major and harpist Lyndsey Walker for all of her assistance at the workshop! You can see the live stream recording of the 2023 TCU Summer Harp Workshop Recital here on YouTube.

Sima's Senior Recital

5/26/2023

Congratulations to Sima Galaganov on a beautiful solo harp performance at tonight's TCU Music Preparatory Senior Recital in PepsiCo Recital Hall! Five other graduating high school seniors, four pianists and a vocalist, were also featured on this evening's concert. I know all of her harp teachers these past few years are just as proud of Sima as I am! All of her hard work this year lead to beautiful performances tonight of Lolita la danseuse by Marcel Tournier and La Source, Op. 44 by Alphonse Hasselmans. I will miss you so much next year, and wish you the best in your studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Brava Sima!