Harpist Miriam Harpist from Ann Arbor, MI

Starting with choral lessons at five and piano lessons at six, I discovered the harp as my true instruments at seven. I began learning to play the harp with Meg Rodgers and to perform with an orchestra under the direction of Steven L. Reed in Saint Joseph, Michigan. Under their guidance, I experienced solo, ensemble, band and symphony orchestra performances in numerous settings: the Saint Joseph High School Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras, Saint Joseph High School Chamber Ensemble, Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra and Monday Musical Club recitals. I was one of the Monday Musical Club's Scholarship Winners and attended Interlochen Arts Camp as well as Blue Lake Music Camp. I performed as the master class junior harpist for Yolanda Kondanassis at the National Convention of the American String Teachers Association and played twenty-two concerts or recitals in my freshman year of high school. I was accepted to Interlochen Arts Academy as a sophomore where I had the privilege of intensive harp studies with Joan Holland. At IAA I performed in recitals, ensembles, musicals and concerts with the Harp Studio, Chamber Ensembles and the Interlochen Arts Academy Band and Symphony Orchestra under the batons of Byron Hanson, David McKinney, David Holland, Matthew Hazelwood and Octavio Mas-Arocas. I also accepted performance opportunities, including weddings, worship services, charity and holiday concerts for several organizations, public schools, nursing homes and churches in the area. After graduating as one of IAA's Outstanding Seniors in 2010, I continued my studies with Joan Holland at the University of Michigan's Moore School of Music, Theater and Dance, Ann Arbor, and have added music education as my major with a continuing emphasis in harp performance. I have had the joy of performing under conductors Rodney Dorsey, Michael Haithcock and Kenneth Keisler. I began fieldwork with the music departments, orchestras and bands of Chealsea, Saline, Michigan Center, and Ann Arbor school districts and observed and participated in master classes given by Nancy Allen, Naoko Yoshino, and Yolanda Kondonassis. I will graduate in May 2014. Some of the organizations for whom I have enjoyed performing include the Krasl Art Center, the Michigan State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, University of Michigan Alumni Association, the Northport Community Chorus, numerous churches across the state of Michigan, Dundee Presbyterian Church of Omaha, Nebraska, and the patients and staff of Munson Hospital in Traverse City, Michigan on Christmas mornings.