University of Central Arkansas Harp Studio

27/04/2026

And the spring semester is a wrap after two beautiful harp jury performances today by Hunter and Carson! Congratulations to Carson, too, who graduates with a degree in computer science on Friday. 👏🎶💜

12/04/2026

Thanks to our *six* intrepid performers (+ Dr. Thorburn) for a beautiful harp studio recital this afternoon! We enjoyed musical selections from around the world 🎶🌎 ... and eighth note cupcakes afterward!

08/04/2026

We are excited to present a studio recital with *seven* harpists performing this Sunday! 3pm in Snow recital hall.
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Each performer has at least one piece referencing a different world music style and/or composer. Come hear the variety of musical styles and see the different types of harps (pedals, levers, and a special guest folk harp). 😊🎶

11/02/2026

We enjoyed a harp-and-flute centered X-Period today at ! Dittersdorf Concerto with the talented Lydia Howard and Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto with Dr. Graham and Dr. Thorburn, all beautifully accompanied by Dr. Boehm. 🎶💜

24/11/2025

Bravi to Hailey and Carson, who performed beautifully in this afternoon's studio recital! 👏👏 We had so much fun sharing selected pieces by harpists in our "family tree" with our audience!

23/11/2025

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CAHSS is proud of the harp studio in the Department of Music. Hear this beautiful instrument played by skilled performers in a free recital this Sunday!

22/11/2025

Our fall studio recital is TOMORROW, Sunday Nov. 23 @ 3pm! Here is our final composer spotlight:

🎶Carlos Salzedo was a monumental figure in US harp pedagogy and new music in the 20th century. While he is not the foremost figure in our particular harp family tree (via Dr. Thorburn), he is nonetheless present via having taught some of the teachers of our more prominent influences when they were younger. :) Salzedo created a whirlwind (pun intended) new harp technique by fusing French technique with modernist aesthetics. There is even a harp model named after him! He wrote several pedagogical as well as concert pieces that harpists from all technique schools play today. Fun fact: Salzedo LOVED the number 5. Many of his pieces feature meters like 5/8 in order to showcase his favorite number.

Dr. Thorburn will be playing Quietude (indeed in 5/8) from Salzedo's Preludes on Sunday!

20/11/2025

The countdown to our Nov. 23 studio recital continues! Here is today's composer spotlight:

🎶Susann McDonald was one of the most prominent figures in US harp pedagogy of the past 50(+) years, a concert artist of the highest caliber, and a composer who contributed numerous works for beginning- and intermediate-level harpists that have become staple pieces in many harp students' journeys. Ms. McDonald also founded the International Harp Competition, based in Bloomington IN, which helped launch the careers of young, talented harpists from around the world. The harp community recently mourned her passing at age 90 this summer, and numerous celebrations of her life have been taking place since. Fun fact: Ms. McDonald is Dr. Thorburn's "harp grandmother"!

Hailey Paschal will be playing Ms. McDonald's "Moonlight" and "Little Prelude" on Sunday!

18/11/2025

The countdown to our Nov. 23 studio recital continues! Here is today's composer spotlight:

🎶Henriette Renié is a prominent figure in our harp family tree! A student of Alphonse Hasselmans at the Paris Conservatory, she is one of the major teachers through which "the French school" of harp technique entered the United States--via talented US harpists like Susann McDonald (also featured on our program) who studied with her. Renié based her teaching career in Paris. She also wrote both beautiful pedagogical works for young students as well as some wicked difficult concert works. Fun fact: Renié was a devout Catholic, a worldview she translated into music in several of her compositions.

Carson Stell will be playing Renié's "Les Pins de Charlanne" with Dr. Thorburn on Sunday!

17/11/2025

Counting down to our Nov 23 recital with some composer spotlights!

🎶François-Joseph Naderman is the furthest branch back on our "harp family tree," at least in our recital program. Active in Paris during a time of crazy political change, he was the Royal Chapel harpist post-Napoleon as well as the first harp professor at the Paris Conservatory. Fun fact: his family also made harps! His études and collection of short sonatas, "Sept Sonatines Progressives," are still a staple part of harp studies today.

Dr. Thorburn will be playing the last movement from his Bb Sonatine.

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