The winner of the American Harp Society competition Young Professional division also serves as the AHS Concert Artist, receiving the opportunity and financial support to perform chapter recitals for a two year term.  $3000.00 is available per year, along with funds from the Escosa Memorial Fund.

Local chapters are encouraged to invite the Concert Artist to perform, and the AHS will pay transportation costs for the Artist.  To request a Concert Artist performance, Chapters should contact the Chairman of the Concert Artist committee.   The current Chairman of the Concert Artist Program is Karen Lindquist, who can be reached at speyquist@earthlink.net.

The Chairman will contact the Concert Artist, who will then set a date with the local chapter.  The expenses of the concert must be approved in advance by the Chairman and the AHS Bookkeeper before the concert date is finalized, and all publicity involving the concert must acknowledge the American Harp Society.

The Concert Artist for 2009-2011 is
Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton

Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton is currently the principal harpist of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (CT). While holding a professional job, she maintains her studies as a full time student of Nancy Allen at the Juilliard School of Music.  Previously, she studied the harp with her mother, Gretchen Van Hoesen, as well as with Anne-Marguerite Michaud and Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche. Heidi has swept many first place awards including the Victor Salvi Awards, the Lennox Young Artist Competition, the Richardson Symphony Concerto Competition, A.S.T.A., and several American Harp Society competitions. She has performed concertos with the Juilliard Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra and several local Pittsburgh Orchestras.

The Concert Artist for 2007-2009 was Sadie Turner

Sadie Turner, 20, is a senior at Rice University pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Harp performance.  She is currently studying with Paula Page, and has also studied with Susan Dederich-Pejovich and Alice Chalifoux.  Miss Turner has performed as a guest soloist with the Houston Symphony and Virtuosi of Houston, in addition to playing principal harp in the Rice University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, as well as the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony.   She recently won the Young Professional division of the American Harp Society's National Competition and is looking forward to serving as the Society's Concert Artist for the next two years. Miss Turner also recently advanced to the finals in the San Diego Symphony Harp audition and is beginning her second year as a finalist for the New World Symphony.  Miss Turner has won first place in the Texas Association of String Orchestras Concerto Competition, and received the gold and bronze medals in the Houston Symphony High School Concerto Competition, as well as the Houston Young Artist Award.  During the summers Sadie has participated in several acclaimed festivals such as the Tanglewood Music Center, Round Top Festival Institute, Texas Music Festival, and the Salzedo School for Harp. 

Past Winners*

*Partial Listing