With the goals of vitalizing the local harp community and enhancing the support for the local harpists in Dallas/Fort Worth area, the American Harp Society in Dallas was established in 1963. We operate as a chapter of the American Harp Society, a non-profit organization, and our members consist of professional and semi-professional harpists, harp instructors, students of all ages and lovers of the harp.
We promote opportunities for cultivating the appreciation for harp music, encouraging youth education, meeting and acquainting with other harpists, and sharing information through our annual events, competitions, masterclasses, special events and concerts. Please refer to our mission, vision, and values statements and membership benefits.
Please feel free to contact us at info@DallasHarpSociety.org for further information.
Welcome to the American Harp Society in Dallas!
Our Mission Statement
"Through education and awareness, the American Harp Society (AHS) in Dallas nurtures talent and creativity; promotes the harp among all harpists and the general public; awards grants and scholarships with organized competitions; provides encouragement to composers and arrangers to write for the harp; and seeks a close working relationship with accredited schools and music faculties to promote study of the harp."
2023-2024 Welcome Letter
Please click on the PDF to download our 2023-24 Welcome Letter
2023-2024 Board of Directors
President: Laura Brandenburg
1st Vice President - Programs: Kimberly Snaufer DeRosa
2nd Vice-President – Membership: Patrick Stanfill
Corresponding Secretary: Meghan Gomen
Recording Secretary: Denise Holland
Treasurer: Carla Siegesmund
Social Media Manager/Webmaster: Urszula Rucka
Student Events Chair: Becky Scherschell
Hospitality Chair: Ruth Mertens
Assistant Hospitality Chair: Victoria Gonzalez
Past Presidents and History
1963-1965 Julia Louise Herrmann
At the first National Conference in 1964 in NYC, AHS in Dallas received a citation from National AHS for outstanding service to the harp
1965-1967 Renee Sheranian Goates
1967-1969 Sharon Strickland Coffin
1969-1971 Dorothy Lyman Bilderback
1971-1973 Virginia Klein
1973-1975 Martha Goldthorn
1975-1977 Julia Herrmann Edwards
1977-1979 David Williams
1979-1981 Edna McClintock
1981-1983 Laura Harris Mitchell
1983-1987 Rebecca Scherschell
AHS in Dallas won Chapter of the Year Award 1987 at 24th National Conference in Pittsburgh.
1987-1989 Carolyn Harris (now Carson)
1989-1991 Julia Herrmann Edwards
1991-1995 Barbara Branum
1995-1997 Denise Holland
AHS in Dallas received Honorable Mention in 1997 at 34th National Conference in Tacoma.
1997-1999 Laurel McConkey
AHS in Dallas won Chapter of the Year Award 1999 at 3rd Summer Institute in Los Angeles.
1999-2000 Naoko Nakamura Stromberg
2000-2005 Ellen Ritscher (Sackett)
2005-2007 Laura Logan
2007-2009 Patricia Ann Diers
2009-2011 Carolyn Carson
2011-2013 Becky Scherschell
AHS in Dallas won Chapter of the Year Award 2012 at 40th National Conference in New York.
2013-2015 Becky Scherschell
2015 - 2019 Yumiko Endo Schlaffer
AHS in Dallas received Honorable Mention in 2016 at 41st National Conference in Atlanta, Ga.
2018
AHS in Dallas won Chapter of the Year Award 2018 at 43rd National Conference in Redlands, CA.
2019- 2023 Becky Scherschell
2023-current Laura Brandenburg
Bylaws of the American Harp Society in Dallas
Please click on the PDF to download our bylaws.