Hear the Art of Harping

The Midwest Harp Academy announces their 2010 Midwest Harp Festival week of concerts in July.

The Midwest Harp Academy announces their 2010 Midwest Harp Festival week of concerts in July. This summer festival will feature student harpists and professional harpists of all ages from around the United States. Two students are traveling from Korea to participate in the festival. Over 40 youth, teens and adults are joining together in Tulsa for this non-competitive week.

The main emphasis is camaraderie, ensemble, chamber music with solo performance opportunities, a master class, private coaching, harp maintenance and three-day progressive workshops taught by talented clinicians. Youth and adult festival registrants perform in their different ensemble levels and combined ensembles after a week of rehearsing ensemble repertoire. All concerts are free and open to the public.

“This international festival is growing and flourishing as others in the country are folding or discontinuing their festivals. This is partly due to the commitment we have in serving the community and the needs of the harpists who attend,” says Lorelei Barton, artistic director of the Midwest Harp Festival. “While we present a relaxed atmosphere that promotes camaraderie and fun, we also advocate high standards by hiring exemplary professional teachers and performers. We try not to be too audacious to think we can’t learn from our mistakes from year to year or flow with the tides of the changes in society.”

Sponsors for the festival include the National Endowment for the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Council, Vanderbilt Music Company, Colin Harp Music, Melody’s Traditional Music and Harp Shoppe, and Lyon and Healy Harps.

The Midwest Harp Academy supports the arts community by educating and performing with the harp. For more information on the festival week or how to donate to the Harp Notes Society, contact Lorelei Barton, artistic director, at (918) 832-0934 or by email at eat0@eau0eav0eaw0. To learn more about the Midwest Harp Festival, go to www.midwestharpfestival.org.

 

Schedule of Events

Festival Opening Concert

Monday, July 19 • 7:30 p.m. 

Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4102 E. 61st St., Tulsa
Featuring our outstanding festival clinicians Mary Bircher, Jan Jennings, Elizabeth Richter and Faye Seeman. Followed by a post-concert reception.

Solo Competition Winner’s Recital

Tuesday, July 20 • 7:30 p.m.

Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4102 E. 61st St., Tulsa
Featuring students who have won first and second prizes at the Solo Competition earlier in the day.

Jazz Harp Concert

Thursday, July 22 • 7:30 p.m.

Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4102 E. 61st St., Tulsa
Featuring 2Tone – Cindy Horstman and Michael Medina,   www.cindyhorstman.com.

Festival Ensembles Concert

Saturday, July 24 • 11 a.m.

Oral Roberts University,

Timko-Barton Recital Hall, 7777 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa
Youth and adult festival registrants perform in their different ensemble levels and combined ensembles after a week of rehearsing ensemble repertoire.