Curriculum Vitae

Education

• The University of Houston, Moores School of Music [Houston, TX]
  Master of Music in Harp Performance & Pedagogy (2001 - 2003)
  Studied with Paula Page
  
  
• The University of Texas at Austin [Austin, TX]
  Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance, with High Honors (1997 - 2001)
  Studied with Gayle Barrington 
    
• Salzedo Summer Harp Colony [Camden, ME]
  Studied upon invitation with Alice Chalifoux (2001)
  
  
• Suzuki Association of the Americas, Teacher Development Courses (2014 - Present)
  Every Child Can with Dr. Laurie Scott - 6 hours [Austin, TX] (2014)
  Harp Unit 1 with Delaine Leonard - 40 hours [Austin, TX] (2014)
  Harp Unit 2 with Delaine Leonard - 25 hours [Austin, TX] (2015)
  Harp Unit 3 with Delaine Leonard - 25 hours [online] (2021)
  Harp Unit 4 with Delaine Leonard - 25 hours [online] (2023)
  Suzuki Early Childhood Education Stage 1 with Sharon Jones - 30 hours [Stevens Point, WI] (2015)
  Suzuki Early Childhood Education Stage 2 with Sharon Jones - 30 hours [Stevens Point, WI] (2017)​
  Suzuki Online Seminars "Begin with the End in Mind" with Delaine Leonard - 12 hours [online]  (2020)​

 

• Master Class Studies
  Alice Chalifoux [Waco, TX] (1998)
  Yolanda Kondonassis [Corpus Christi, TX] (2000)

Performance
Freelance

• Harpist for weddings, church services, corporate events, and private celebrations (1997 - Present)
• Driskill Hotel, Harpist for Royal Victorian Tea and Holiday Brunches at historic hotel [Austin, TX] (2004 - 2007) 

Orchestra

• Acting Principal Harp, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra - substitute position [Buffalo, NY] (December 2017 - August 2018) 
• Principal Harp, Temple Symphony Orchestra [Temple, TX] (2007 - 2014)  
• Principal Harp, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra [Kingsville, TX] (2007 - 2009)
• Acting Principal Harp, Waco Symphony Orchestra - one year substitute position [Waco, TX] (2005 - 2006) 
• Substitute and Second Harp with: Asheville Symphony Orchestra (2019-2020), Austin Symphony Orchestra (2009-2014), Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (2016-2017), Corpus Christi Ballet (2007-2008), Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra (2006-2008), Galveston Symphony Orchestra (2001-2003), Greenville Symphony Orchestra (2019), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (2016-2017), South Carolina Philharmonic (2018), Spartanburg Philharmonic (2018-2020), San Antonio Symphony (2013-2014), Savannah Philharmonic (2018-2020), Waco Symphony Orchestra (2004-2010).

Chamber Music & Ensembles

• Brevard Music Center Community Concert Series [Brevard, NC] (2019)
• Buffalo Chamber Players, resident harpist [Buffalo, NY] (2015 - 2018)
• The Breve Duo, flute and harp ensemble [Austin, TX] (2004 – 2010)
• Austin Harp Choir, harp ensemble [Austin, TX] (2009 - 2010)
• Audio Inversions: a contemporary music ensemble, resident harpist [Austin, TX] (2005 – 2008)

Recordings

• Respighi: Roman Trilogy, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for the Naxos label (released February 2019)
• Built for Buffalo 2, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for the Beau Fleuve label (released December 2018)
• Wagner: Orchestral Music from Der Ring des Nibelungen, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for Naxos (released March 2018)
• The Music of Percy Grainger, Volume IV, The University of Houston Wind Ensemble for Mark Records (released July 2003)

Premieres

• Curtains of Light: Eight Overlapping Soundscapes for mixed septet - Caroline Mallonée (World Premiere - May 25, 2017)
• When Cognac Hits the Light Serenadensatz for Flute, Bassoon, and Harp - P. Kellach Waddle (World Premiere - November 14, 2006)
• Before the Solstice for flute and harp - David Lefkowitz (World Premiere - September 16, 2006)
• Bits-O-Bugs: Reminisces of a Rabbit for flute and harp - Elizabeth Start (Texas Premiere - September 16, 2006)

 
Teaching

• Adjunct Harp Instructor, Texas Christian University School of Music  [Fort Worth, TX]
  Individual harp instruction to music majors and minors at the undergraduate and graduate level, TCU Harp Ensemble director, and TCU Summer Harp Workshop program director. (2022 - present)  ​
• Harp Instructor, Music Preparatory at Texas Christian University School of Music [Fort Worth, TX]
  Individual harp instruction for pre-college students, non-majors, and adults. (2022 - present)  ​
• Private Harp Instructor, Suzuki and traditional methods to harpists of all ages. Students have earned top prizes in solo competitions such as the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, Midwest Harp Festival competition, and won positions in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Ensembles. Private studio alumni have gone on to receive degrees in Music Education from Baylor University, Music Therapy from Sam Houston State University, and Harp Performance at University of North Texas. (1998 - Present) Playlist of Student Performances on YouTube

 
Previous Faculty Positions  

• ​Harp Instructor, Buffalo Suzuki Strings [North Tonawanda, NY]
• Founded the harp department, assisted with monthly community engagement events, and provided weekly individual as well as group Suzuki harp instruction to students ages 4-18. (2014 - 2018)
• Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator, Buffalo Suzuki Strings  [Buffalo, NY]
  Instructor and program coordinator for interactive Suzuki Early Childhood Education classes for parents and children ages birth through 3 years. Administrative responsibilities included: recruiting families, managing enrollment and tuition processing each semester, communications with families in the program, and mentoring other three Suzuki Early Childhood Education teachers in the program. (2015 - 2018) ​
• Adjunct Harp Instructor, Temple College [Temple, TX]
  Individual harp instruction to music majors and minors at Temple College pursuing associates degrees. Harp major accepted as a transfer student Sam Houston State Univeristy as a Music Therapy major for fall 2014. (2013 - 2014)  ​
• Harp Instructor & Harp Program Director, Round Rock ISD [Round Rock & Austin, TX]
  Individual and group harp instruction to middle school and high school students. Administrative responsibilities included: daily liaison with district music directors at fifteen secondary school campuses; mentoring other harp instructors; harp program budget oversight; database management; and maintenance for 17 harps (2009 - 2014)
• Founder & Co-Director, Round Rock Independent School District Harp Ensemble Festival [Round Rock, TX] 
  An annual harp ensemble festival for RRISD harp students ages 8-18. (2010 - 2018) Video: Love Mashup from 2017, Full Ensemble Video Clip from 2018, & HS Ensemble Video Clip from 2018
• Harp Instructor, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp [Twin Lake, MI]
  Harp ensembles director and individual harp instruction to middle school students (Summers 2007, 2008, & 2009) ​
• Harp Instructor, University of Houston Moores School of Music Preparatory and Continuing Studies Program [Houston, TX]
  Individual harp instruction to pre-college and retired adult students (2001 - 2003)

Adjudicator, Clinician, Guest Instructor, and Summer Programs 

• Director, Summer Harp Workshop - TCU  [Fort Worth, TX]
  Masterclass presenter, harp ensemble director, music theory, and movement open to  intermediate and advanced students ages 8th grade and above. (Summers 2022 - Present)
• Harp Panel Judge, Julia Herrmann Edwards Scholarship Award Competition and Gail Barber Scholarship Award Competition presented by the Dallas Chapter of the American Harp Society [Dallas, TX] (2021 & 2023)
• Adjudicator, Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, Arts Festival [Fort Worth, TX] (April 2023)
• Guest Advisor, American Harp Society, Inc., Music Education Auditions and Evaluations program; a non-competitive solo harp event for students of all ages.
  Guest advisor for Dallas Chapter of the American Harp Society [Dallas, TX] (March 2020)
  Guest advisor for the Austin Chapter of the American Harp Society [Austin, TX] (January & March 2022) ​
• Harp Faculty, Summer Workshop - Buffalo Suzuki Strings [North Tonawanda, NY] 
  Masterclass presenter, harp ensemble co-director, music theory, and movement classes for students ages 5-18. (Summers 2014 - 2022) Video: Lavender's Blue Fantasy & Video: Rockin' Rhody
• Co-Director, Sparkle City Harp Ensemble [Spartanburg, SC]
  Led an ensemble of student, amateur, and professional harpists of all ages and abilities. (2019 - 2020) 
• Guest Harp & Yoga Instructor, Longhorn Music Camp - The University of Texas at Austin [Austin, TX]
  Assistant to UT Harp Professor Delaine Leonard, taught Yoga classes, coached harp ensemble, and provided individual harp instruction to high school harp students. (Summers 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, & 2019)
• Guest Harp Ensemble Clinician​, Fredonia Harp Day - State University of New York at Fredonia [Fredonia, NY] (May 2018)
• Co-Director, American Harp Society Youth Harp Ensemble, 42nd American Harp Society, Inc., National Conference [Atlanta, GA] (June-July 2016)
• Guest Director, Orchard Park Harp Ensemble [Orchard Park, NY] (2015 - 2017)
• Texas Music Educators Association All State Harp Panel Judge, TMEA Orchestra All-State Auditions (2007 & 2013)
• Texas Music Educators Association Clinician
  Harp sectionals clinician for TMEA All-State Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras. [San Antonio, TX] (February 2014)
  Odessa TMEA All-City Harp Ensemble Director [Odessa, TX] (November 2009)
• Interim Harp Instructor, Eanes ISD [Westlake, TX]
  Substitute harp instructor during harp director’s maternity leave (2007 - 2008)
• Guest Chamber Ensemble Faculty, Austin Chamber Music Center Summer Workshop [Austin, TX] (July 2006)
• Masterclass Presenter, Fort Bend ISD [Sugar Land, TX] Monthly harp masterclasses at middle schools (2002 - 2003)​

 
Publications

• Contributing Author, The American Harp Journal
  Symphony Spotlight: Suzanne Thomas (Volume 26 No. 3 Summer 2018)

 

• Contributing Author, The Harp Column Magazine
  Feature: Keeping the Beat (July/August 2020)
  Feature: Metronome Apps You Can Count On (July/August 2020)
  Feature: Fine Tuning (May/June 2020)
  Feature: Top Apps for Tuning (May/June 2020)
  Feature: Going Public - School Harp Programs (March/April 2019)
  Article Extra: Public Record - Quick Stats on Public School Harp Programs & How They Purchased All Those Harps (March/April 2019)
  Sounding Board: Rules for Relocating (January/February 2019)
  Feature: What Makes a Musical Role Model (November/December 2018)
  Feature: Teacher's Pet - Pieces Teachers Love (September/October 2017)
  Feature: Fitting In (November/December 2015)
  Feature: One Big Happy Family - Tracing Your Harp Heritage (July/August 2015)
  Article Extra: Six Degrees - Tracing the Roots of 5 harpists (July/August 2015)
  In Memoriam: Remembering Gayle H. Barrington (May/June 2013)
  Music Review: Study Up, Two New Resources for Teachers and Students (January/February 2013)
  Learning Curve: Hooked on a Feelin’ - Thinking in shapes instead of notes to improve speed (January/February 2011)
  How To Play: 12 Practice Habits - A year’s worth of practice habits for everyone (January/February 2007)
  How To Play: Going for the Goal - Start the School Year Off Right (September/October 2006)
  How To Play: Incorporating Music Theory Into Practice & Lessons (March/April 2006) 

Workshop Presenter

• Curious About the Harp? Arts Festival 2023 - Independent Schools Association of the Southwest   
  Workshop introducing harps and how they work to high school festival participants. (Fort Worth, TX] (April 2023) 
• Enchanting Effects: How to weave magic into your music, Hangin' with the Harp - Atlanta Harp Center  
  Workshop on creating special effects and executing extended techniques on the harp. [live online video series] (October 2022) PDF Handout
• Virtual Harp Q&A: strategies for lessons, recording, and performing online, Houston Chapter of the American Harp Society, Inc. [online] (July 2020)
• Take Note: 10 Tips for Taking Great Notes in Lessons, Suzuki Association of the Americas, Parents as Partners [online video series] (January 2020)
• Effective Grant Writing, American Harp Society,
  SummerFest [Online] (June 2021)
  Summer Institute [Winston-Salem, NC] (June 2019)
• Yoga for Harpists, American Harp Society, Inc., 41st National Conference [New Orleans, LA] (June 2014)

Related Experience

• Guest Performer and Storyteller, Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries [Erie County, NY]
• Presentations for children and families at multiple library branches with customized curriculum to suit the ages of children attending and season of the year. The interactive programs included: reading books, singing songs, live harp performances, question and answer sessions, and an opportunity for children to try playing the harp (2014 - 2018)
• TMEA Region Harp Ensemble Coordinator, Texas Music Educators Association, Region 26 (2010 - 2014)
• Yoga Instructor, Certified in Dharma Yoga at the 300 hour level. Individual yoga sessions designed for musicians and harpists. (2011 - Present)
• Festival Operations Coordinator, Texas Music Festival [Houston, TX]
  Assisted Festival Director and supervised Festival staff. Responsibilities included: Database creation and maintenance; processing applications; organizing concerto competition and masterclasses; liaison with faculty and guest artists; coordinator for faculty chamber music series, planning festival orchestra tours; worked with university international office and Houston Consulates to arrange visas for international guest artists and festival participants (January 2002 – July 2004)
• Graduate Teaching Assistant in Music History, UH Moores School of Music [Houston, TX]
  Review sessions instructor, substitute lecturer, and assistant to professors in all areas of musicology research including early music and ethnomusicology (2001 – 2003)
• Assistant Summer Music Programs Coordinator, The University of Texas at Austin, [Austin, TX]
  Assisted in recruitment of students; processed applications and contracts; arranged housing assignments; organized first day registration for 300 campers per session for Longhorn Music Camp (January - July 2001)
• Harp Counselor, Longhorn Music Camp - The Univeristy of Texas at Austin [Austin, TX] 
  Assistant to UT harp professor Gayle Barrington, individual coaching on harp ensemble and orchestral repertoire, residential counselor to students ages 10-17 (Summers 1998, 1999, &  2000)

 
Professional Affiliations
Suzuki Association of the Americas (2014 - Present)
Texas Music Educators Association (2005 - 2014 & 2021 - Present)
American Federation of Musicians (2003 - Present)
Mu Phi Epsilon, International Professional Musician Fraternity (1998 - 2001)
American Harp Society, Inc. (1993 - Present)

Honors and Awards
Whit Dudley Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Harp, The University of Texas at Austin (1998 - 2001)
College Scholar, The University of Texas at Austin (1999, 2000, & 2001)
 
Committee & Volunteer Service for the American Harp Society, Inc.
Chairman of the Board, American Harp Society, Inc. (2020 - 2024)
First Vice President, American Harp Society, Inc. (2016 - 2018)
Co-Chair, American Harp Society, Inc., Grants Committee (2015 - Present)
Music Education Auditions & Evaluations Committee member, American Harp Society, Inc. (2015 - Present)
Executive Committee member, American Harp Society, Inc. (2014 - 2019, 2020 - 2024)
Social Media Manager, American Harp Society, Inc. (2014 - 2022)
Grants Committee member, American Harp Society, Inc. (2013 - Present)
Director-at-Large, American Harp Society, Inc., Board of Directors (2013 - 2019, 2020 - 2023)
President, Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the American Harp Society, Inc. (2020 - 2022)
President, Austin Chapter of the American Harp Society, Inc. (2004 - 2007, & 2011 - 2012) 
Volunteer, American Harp Society, Inc., 9th Summer Institute and 19th National Competition [Denton, TX] (June 2011)

​Community Engagement
Musician Mentor, Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo: Inspiring Great Futures program [Buffalo, NY] (2015 - 2016)
Volunteer Usher, Conspirare: A Company of Voices [Austin, TX] (2005 - 2009)
Volunteer, Austin Junior Forum: Christmas at Caswell [Austin, TX] (2003 & 2004) 
Volunteer Usher, Bay Chamber Concert Summer Series, Rockland Opera House [Rockland, ME] (Summer 2001)