What are some fun events that your chapter hosts?
The Dallas Chapter has a large and diverse membership, and we enjoy a wide variety of programs and events. We usually have something for everyone, whether it is a masterclass, a recital by a visiting Guest Artist, a teachers' discussion forum, or playing in a Celtic Harp Circle. The Dallas Chapter is deeply committed to the education and mentorship of our students. Of course, it's always fun when we are able to get together to just socialize. This past year we opened our season with a Fall Harp Gathering at a member's lovely home, with lots of food, a harp music "garage sale," and a Silent Auction to raise funds for the chapter. In 2024, the chapter celebrated our 60th anniversary with a big party that included live harp music, of course!
Do you have any beloved traditions?
Our season of programming concludes each year in May with our Annual Student Recital featuring young harpists of all ages and levels from studios across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This year, we recognized the winners of our biennial Student Scholarship Competitions.
What makes the Dallas Chapter community so special?
What makes the Dallas Chapter so special is our close-knit community of harpists. It's a very supportive group of long-term friends and colleagues, but also very welcoming to harpists new to the area.
What are you most proud of about the Dallas chapter?
The members of the Dallas Chapter are always ready and willing to try new things! The Chapter is already planning and looking forward to hosting the AHS national event, the AHS Harp Ensemble Festival, here in 2027. We recently held our own AHS in Dallas Harp Ensemble Festival, using the national festival guidelines as a model. We had ten local ensembles participating, outstanding local harpist adjudicators, and an appreciative audience. The Festival was a great success overall and we can't wait to host ensembles from all over the country in 2027.
