Study with me

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

I am a professor of harp at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where we offer the following programs:

• Bachelor of Music

• Masters of Music

• Professional Studies Certificate

My teaching is informed by my experience as the Gold Medalist of the USA International Harp Competition, Concert Artist for American Harp Society, and a career in four major orchestras. For me, technique and artistry are one. I am committed to helping my students find their own expressive voice, equipping them with the tools to move beyond the notes and truly connect with their audiences.

I strive to create a studio environment that is as supportive as it is challenging. Beyond our time in lessons, I provide resources necessary for continued success: written notes for each lesson, customized practice plans, assignments tailored to each student, and ongoing guidance throughout the week. Another key component of my teaching is helping students develop an analytical, problem-solving approach to their playing and practicing, building the skills to practice independently and effectively, and laying the groundwork for their own future teaching careers.

In our weekly studio class, we explore practical topics necessary for a career in music: realities of audition preparation, creating contracts, setting rates, negotiating pay, marketing & branding, and more.

Learn more about SFCM here, or contact me for a trial lesson.

Private Lessons

I offer private lessons to intermediate-advanced students in-person in San Francisco or virtually over zoom. My primary area of expertise is classical solo harp and orchestral harp repertoire.

Currently, my private studio is full and I am not accepting new weekly students, but I am available for one-off lessons or a set of lessons to help students prepare for an audition, competition, etc.

Contact me for rates and scheduling.

Audition Coachings

As someone who has held 4 full-time tenured orchestral positions and taken multiple successful auditions, I know what it takes to thrive in a professional audition. I offer in-person or virtual coachings to help you prepare with confidence, whether you’re looking for a single session or a package of coachings tailored to your audition prep timeline.

My coaching draws directly from my own audition experience and covers everything you need to feel prepared:

• My interpretations of excerpts that have proven successful in auditions

• Personalized practice plans

• Preparation strategies

• Mental preparation techniques to help you perform your best under pressure

Contact me for rates and scheduling.

Masterclasses

I’m available to teach masterclasses at your school, college, local harp chapter, and more!

Contact me to set something up.

Orchestra audition rep list spreadsheet

I recently developed a database tracking the appearance of every excerpt in harp orchestra audition lists. For this project, I compiled and organized data from 49 different US & Canadian orchestras’ audition lists. The spreadsheet is organized into solo/chamber and excerpt categories, with the frequency of each piece’s appearance and specific sections noted. A Google Drive folder containing the actual rep lists is also included.

This is a great resource for teachers, and high school or college students who might not be auditioning quite yet, to help inform which excerpts are most critical to learn based on hard data. Rather than just going by feeling on what seems the most important to learn next, you can prioritize learning new excerpts that appear higher on this list, and work your way down.

Contact me to receive a copy of the sheet.