Harpists Return to Aldersgate

Susan Allen’s summer harp course is once again setting up strings at Aldersgate, 925 Haverford, for another two-week session July 24-August 6. ” In addition to the daily schedule of classes and summer fun, the students will participate in master classes taught by professionals who specialize in different harp styles. ”Ranging in age from 9 to 39, the students come from United States and around the world, and play at a variety of levels, attend classes in the morning and afternoon in the cozy living room at Aldersgate.” ”The public is invited to listen to the master classes, which will feature solo work from the harpists as well as a student concert with solo and ensemble works. ”This year there will be three free concerts open to the public next door at the Woman’s Club: ”” ”Michael Rado will perform a classical repertoire on Sunday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m., and Stella Castellucci will perform jazz standards on Tuesday, August 2, at 7:30 p.m. Both of these concerts are made possible by the Music Performance Fund of the Recording Industries. The final concert will be on Friday, August 5, at 4 p.m. ”Allen, associate dean of the school of music at CalArts in Valencia, started her summer camp as an opportunity for harpists to come together as a community and learn from one another. ” A native of Santa Barbara, she taught for many years in the east, before relocating to the West Coast in 1984. Since then, she has been a member of the faculty at CalArts and teaches improvisation, harp, chamber music, theory, music literature and the performer/composer forum. ” ”Rado began his harp studies in 1979 at the age of 25, after having studied, excelled and won competitions as pianist for 20 years. He is now principal harpist with the San Francisco Opera Center and Western Opera orchestras, and is currently on the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. ” Castellucci reached the pinnacle of her profession as a jazz harpist and composer through multiple avenues, beginning in radio as a staff musician for American Broadcasting Company in Hollywood when she was 19. After two years at ABC, Castellucci entered an eight-year association with famed singer Peggy Lee, playing harp in the jazz sextets and quintets that backed Miss Lee on her tours throughout the U.S. ”Since 1974, Castellucci’s deep interest in conducting workshops in jazz harp has added a new dimension to her career. For her arrangements of standard and contemporary songs and ballads, she has gained the applause of harpists throughout the music world. She maintains a schedule of teaching, coaching jazz harp, recording and motion picture and television scoring sessions. ”For more information, contact: www.summerharpcourse.com