Spotlight on the Mile High Chapter of the AHS • American Harp Society

We're shining the spotlight on the Mile High Chapter of the AHS, in Denver, Colorado! We caught up with chapter president Kathryn Harms, who shared her insights and strategy for maintaining a healthy, active community of harpists in the Denver Metro area.

What are some fun events that your chapter hosts?

We’re excited for our Mile High Chapter Harp Symposium, which will take place at Colorado State University on October 4, 2025. Partially inspired by an AHS Conference, this event will focus on "Celebrating the Colorado Harp Community" with workshops, a panel discussion, and a performance showcasing some of the pedagogical and compositional contributions of past and present chapter members.

In alternating years, we host our major harp ensemble concert—Harp Fantasia! This long-standing Colorado tradition brings harpists together for a major ensemble performance in a professional setting. Any harpist is welcome to participate, and we've had as many as 50 performers in previous years!

Do you have any beloved traditions?

We’ve been celebrating the 60th anniversary of active AHS chapters in Colorado! One of our favorite historic documents from the '60s is a letter inviting members to check out CSU's new Lyon & Healy Centennial model harp. Members were encouraged to "bring their own meats" for a cookout afterward! In keeping with this tradition, we’re inviting our members to "bring their own sweets" to our backyard jamboree, which will kick off our fall programming.

What makes the Mile High Chapter community so special?

There is so much! Colorado has a rich harp scene, and we recently recognized some guests of honor at our most recent Harp Fantasia who have played a significant role in strengthening our network—Dave and Deb Kolacny. In addition to Dave's reputable and reliable work as a harp technician, they also continue to rent out a myriad of harps through Harps Nouveau. A local harp technician and easily accessible harps for rent?! We realize how lucky we are to have them and their support! They are a real backbone for the Colorado harp community, and we cherish their membership and contributions.

What are you most proud of about the Mile High chapter?

The Mile High Chapter has been especially proud of our Chapter Ambassadors (CAs)! Since 2022, we’ve had the privilege of supporting five incredible CAs, and it’s been inspiring to mentor them throughout their terms and watch their continued dedication to the AHS community. Their community engagement projects have been diverse and impactful, and they remain a source of inspiration as young members of AHS. We’re so proud of them all and hope to continue supporting CAs in the future!

Mile High Chapter Ambassadors
2024: Dagny Dash
2023: Adaleigh Hellman
2022: Ezekiel Harris, Julianne McCollough, Alex Wong

The Mile High Chapter board is honored to serve our members and is dedicated to supporting our vibrant community. We draw continuous inspiration from the leadership and events of the national AHS.

Thanks for sharing, Kathryn! Learn more about the Mile High Chapter of the AHS on their website.

Last Modified: Jul 24th, 2025