Stephanie Claussen: 2018 US National Scottish Harp Champion
This weekend I traveled to Edinboro, Pennsylvania to compete in the Edinboro Scottish Harp Competition and US National Scottish Harp Championship. My dear friend Emily put me up in her …
Motivated by the Beat: Spin Class and Harp Practice
I’ve been trying out spin classes this past year.
Spinning. You know – as in indoor cycling?
One of my harp students in responsible. She invited me, attended along with …
Edinburgh International Harp Festival 2018
I experienced one specific conversation at least five times during the festival:
Sitting down at the dinner table: “Hi, my name is Stephanie.”
“Hello! I’m Anna.” (Or Caroline, or Helen.)
A moment of …
The Northern Harpist’s Winter Survival Guide
Perhaps the worst part of my job is the winter-time conflict between staying warm and looking professional, flawlessly groomed, elegant… harpist-like.
The harpist’s gig prep is not a simple waltz …
A Performance Observed: Fear and Elation
March 25th, 2017
Yesterday I joined a visiting wind ensemble for a concert of Navarro’s “Clarinet Concerto N. 1” and David Maslanka’ “A Child’s Garden of Dreams.” I had played the …
4 Things That Strike Terror Into the Heart of Every Harpist
(Being by no means a complete list of existing harpist problems)
1. The malfunctioning handicap entrance button
It lures one into a false sense of security, promising not only to open the …
Moss, Wood, and Thicket: a description
All throughout high school, as I was waiting for the morning school bus, I would look east as the sun rose above the trees and sharp hills of the local …
Outdoor Wedding Harp Essentials
If you’re reading this, you are probably considering having harp music for your outdoor wedding ceremony. Wonderful! It might be absolutely perfect. But as we all know with outdoor weddings …