AHSD Member News
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New Lyon and Healy Publication by Haley Hodson
This 2-4+ harp ensemble piece was inspired by Haley’s visit to Lantau Island while attending the 13th World Harp Congress in Hong Kong in 2017 (World Harp Congress 2017 Hong Kong). It is written for various levels and age groups, for lever and pedal. Read a sample, watch and listen to a video and download your copy today at harp.com
Cindy Horstman featured in 2020 Staff Holiday Picks
I Wonder As I Wander
Cindy Horstman
This upbeat, jazzy setting of the traditionally slow, lyrical carol is the perfect addition to your holiday gig repertoire! Plus, if you’re anything like me and struggle with jazz improvisation, this arrangement has everything written out for you. But, it’s simple enough that you can still add your own embellishments. Arranged for the pedal harp with minimal pedal changes. Your audience will love this unexpected twist on the traditional tune!
What Child is This?* (two harps)
Cindy Horstman
Cindy has done it again! This fun and jazzy arrangement of a traditional holiday tune for two harps is an extremely rewarding piece that students and audiences will love. The first harp part primarily holds the role of melody maker throughout the arrangement with flurries of ornamental triplet figures sprinkled in, while the second harp provides the harmonic and foundational platform for the piece. The two parts are not equal in difficulty, the second having far more quick pedal changes than the first, making it an ideal teaching piece to work with young or new pedal harp players.
CARES Grant Program
May 20, 2020
Dear Members,
The American Harp Society in Dallas is excited to announce the CARES Grant Program! These grants are intended to assist local DFW harpists, both students and professionals, in this difficult time. Please see the attached application form for details.
In order to provide assistance in a timely manner, the deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday, May 20. Please email your completed application to info@dallasharpsociety.org in order to be considered. You can also contact us at the same email address with any questions.
This grant program is open to anyone who is a current member or was a member during the 2018-2019 season. You will receive confirmation that your application was received within a few days.
Best,
The AHSD Board
"Pop Goes the Harp" and Annual Student Recital: Cancelled
Dear Members of the AHS in Dallas,
The AHS in Dallas has made the decision to cancel not only the Sunday, April 19 meeting called "Pop Goes the Harp", but also the annual Student Recital, scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 3. "Pop Goes the Harp" will be rescheduled for the 2020-2021 season, and the next annual Student Recital will take place in May of 2021.
Everyone, please stay safe, careful, and well, and continue to enjoy lots of music. As we all know, music soothes the soul.
Sincerely,
AHS in Dallas Board of Directors
Becky Scherschell, President
DAVID HINES WINS THE FIVE STAR SPIRIT AWARD
AHSD member David Hines is a man to be reckoned with. He has been awarded the Five Star Spirit Award from Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Irving for his volunteer work as a performing harpist.
He plays the harp as the Traveling Troubadour at the hospital, playing on all floors, including the basement through the 6th floor, with stops in Emergency, Intensive Care, Critical Care, and Day Surgery. Not only that, he demonstrates the hospital-owned robot to patients, staff, and visitors.
David also volunteers as a harpist playing for luncheons at the Heritage Senior Center, the Irving Elks
Lodge, and the VA Hospital.
That’s not all! David has won the Irving “Yard of the Month” award this summer for his skill as a
gardener.
CONGRATULATIONS and WAY TO GO, DAVID!! We are very proud of you!!
10/15/2017
Alaina Grasier, recent graduate of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, has joined the faculty at Sam Houston State University. She is now accepting college-aged students and offers a varied curriculum you can read more about here.
6/9/17
Congratulations to Dr. Jaymee Haefner on the release on her new book "One Stone To The Building - Henriette Renié’s Life Through Her Works for Harp". The book will become available for purchase on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com next month. There will be a release party and book signing on July 3rd at 5:30 pm at the square at UNT.
Cindy Horstman releases new solo and ensemble compositions for harp!
11/1/16
Our very own AHSD harpist, composer and arranger, Cindy Horstman, has been hard at work! Here is a list of some of her newest compositions which can be found on her website, Harp Column Music, and Melody's Traditional Music.
For Pedal/Lever ensembles: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen for 3 harps (upbeat jazz-based style)
For Solo: Dragonflies (a fun and energetic original work for solo harp)
Other Solo Holiday Arrangements: I Wonder as I Wander; What Child is This; Snow Daze
Suzuki Pedagogue Rosalie Gilbert Opens Harp Studio in Bedford, TX
10/1/16
The AHSD welcomes former University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point harp professor Rosalie Gilbert to the DFW area. She is a Suzuki registered harp teacher, and is currently accepting students of all ages and levels in her studio in Bedford, TX.
9/6/16
University of North Texas's String Project is beginning a new harp program this fall semester! Classes will meet once a week for a group lesson on Wednesday's from 5:00-6:00 with an additional 10 required private or pod lessons and one recital. For information on lever harp instrument rental, contact program instructor Annie Lehman at annelehman.harp@gmail.com. Scholarship opportunities available! For more info, click here.
Important dates:
September 15th at 6:30 - Parent/Student Meeting at Instrument Fair (Room 258, College of Music)
Activities run from the week of September 26th through the week of November 28th, 2016
9/1/16
The AHSD welcomes former Sarasota Orchestra harpist, Cheryl Losey, to Dallas who has just co-founded the Dallas Harp Academy with hometown Dallas harpist, Karen Abrahamson Thomas, who also serves as Harp Professor of Baylor University School of Music. Based in the Lakewood area, Cheryl and Karen have created a versatile harp program and are currently accepting students for the fall semester. If interested, please contact them here.
9/1/16
Starting September 1st, Grace Browning (Juilliard, M.M., University of Michigan, B.M.) will be taking over as Harp Instructor of the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas, following her predecessor, Suzuki harp teacher Trevor Schill (Vanderbilt, B.M.). The harp program at SMID involves weekly lessons, group lessons, theory lessons, and monthly performance opportunities. She is currently accepting more students into her studio of all levels and backgrounds. If interested in joining, please contact Grace here.
8/17/16
The following blurb is excerpted and adapted from an 2015 article from the Harp Column: Practical News, for Practical Harpists:
"Harpists are invited to enter the 2017 Lewisville Lake Symphony International Competition for Strings. The competition is open to to string players, and harpists ages 18–30 who are planning a professional career in music and are currently enrolled in college. First Prize includes $2,000 and a performance with the Lewisville Lake Symphony at their 2017-2018 season opening concert. A preliminary video round will be held in January, with a January 20th, 2017 deadline for video entries. The live final round will take place on March 11th, 2017 on the campus of the University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas. There is a non-refundable application fee of $75. Repertoire includes the Gliere harp concerto, Op. 74, and the Pierne Concertstuck, Op. 39."
Jaymee Haefner Featured in Harp Column Podcast
4/27/16
In Harp Column Podcast Episode 9, host Kristina Finch talks with Jaymee Haefner, author of the new regular column Harmonic Curve which explores the fundamentals of playing the harp and provides strategies and tools to improve one's playing. Check out the interview below!
UNT Receives Rare Historic Harps
8/24/15
This summer the UNT School of Music received four historic harps from UNT alumna and former Dallas Opera harpist, David Williams. Williams donated four incredibly unique instruments that date back to Mozart's era...To learn more about these harps, check out the link below.