Lever Harp Teacher's Symposium Etc.

May 30 -June 1, 2008

Etc Page

updated 3/31/2008

Elizabeth Etters Asmus received her formal musical training as a student of Susann McDonald at the Juilliard School, where was awarded the Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees. She has also studied with Marcel Grandjany and Nancy Allen. After graduation, Elizabeth lived and worked in New York City. She has played in the world's greatest concert halls and off-Broadway. Now that she has returned to her roots in central Pennsylvania, Elizabeth continues to perform with local symphonies, choruses and chamber ensembles. She maintains an active teaching studio and is an instructor of harp at Messiah and Dickinson Colleges. In addition to performing in artist series, Elizabeth arranges repertoire for solo harp and for flute and harp, with publication of some of her works due in Spring 2007. Her interest in educational outreach has resulted in her representing the Harrisburg Symphony on various programs for children. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the State Street Academy, whose major focus is art and music education for inner city children of Harrisburg, PA.

Lastly: A Note from the Symposium Director. Elizabeth has been my harp teacher and I love and respect her not only for her fantastic musical training, background and abilities, but mostly because she "gets it" regarding adult beginners who just want to play the harp! She is always gently encouraging and understands that we want to play to "satisfy our souls" - her words. I can't think of a better and more qualified person to present these workshops for the Symposium.

Sally Perreten was a student of Marcel Grandjany from age 7 through graduation from Juilliard. She performed with numerous musical groups in and around New York City during her student years, including a performance as soloist with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 15.

Before moving to Connecticut Sally was a busy freelancer and teacher
in Montreal, performing frequently as soloist with chamber music
groups and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Quebec as well as the Montreal Symphony.

In Connecticut Sally has been active in many professional capacities
as a classical musician. She was Visiting Teacher of Harp at
Wesleyan University from 1983 to 2007, and has a busy teaching studio in Old Saybrook. Three books of her harp arrangements have been published by the publishing arm of Melody's Music, Afghan Press.

In 1998 she became very interested in the music of Ireland and
Scotland, especially Irish harp traditions; and this is now her
primary focus. In addition to a Celtic harp duo, she plays regularly
with the Scottish group Island Road and The Kitchen Ceili.

Ray Pool -was the harpist at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City for 17 years! He is a teacher, recording artist, composer, arranger and clinician. A graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, as an organ major, Mr. Pool later studied harp privately with Dewey Owens and Lucile Lawrence.
He is the author of various writings on harmony for both lever and pedal harp available in book form and on video. Other publications include numerous collections of solos of both popular repertoire, traditional tunes and seasonal favorites for lever harp, pedal harp and multiple pedal harps. He is also a frequent contributor to The Harp Column with articles on harmony and arranging. And various works have been reviewed in that magazine by Jan Jennings.

Ray is thoroughly knowledgable, likeable, and helpful. He has traveled all over the United States with his workshops, and has gotten rave reviews. Ray is the foremost promoter for tuning lever harps in Eb.
Check out Ray's web site www.raypool.com for more info.

Gerry Serviente is the founder and organizer of the Somerset Folk Harp Festival, and organizer of the Lever Harp Teacher's Symposium. She is an experienced liturgical musician, playing harp and organ in the Harrisburg, PA area. She began playing lever harp as a 50th birthday present to herself. Her interest in teaching lever harp stems from 1) having an absolutely superb teacher: Elizabeth Etters Asmus, and 2) frustration in being asked so many times if she was available to teach, and not feeling qualified. Gerry's goal in establishing the Lever Harp Teacher's Symposium was to offer a good theoretical, technical and practical foundation to those who already teach lever harp or plan to do so. Gerry has a certificate in Church Music from Shenandoah Conservatory and a Master of Arts degree in Education and Human Development from the George Washington University.

Lee Gayman is a multi-talented builder of instruments, including harps, as well as a member of the folk group Still Simple Gifts, and a leading light in the Cumberland Valley Harp Circle. Lee's harps are known and treasured in the Central Pennsylvania region, where owners of a "Lee Harp" consider them selves lucky, especially since Lee is essentially a non-commercial builder. Lee is a patient teacher: The harp circle calls him our "Harp Doctor"

See Daily Schedule for more information on exact times of presentations and classes.

For Information on Accommodations see: Lodging and Meals

Exhibits by the Virginia Harp Center
and the clinicians

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