This summer, come to Tacoma to celebrate art, nature and the diversity of the harp, and to experience the spectacular scenery in our beautiful Pacific Northwest! The harpists of the Greater Seattle-Tacoma area are eager to greet you and will provide a program of many textures and colors.
Our theme, “From Sound to Strings” alludes to Puget Sound, our inland sea, surrounded by wooded beauty and overlooked by snow-capped mountains. The orca (killer whale) in our logo is a beloved local icon – a frequent visitor to the Sound. We invite you to come early and stay late to enjoy some of the many spectacular scenic attractions of our Pacific Northwest.
Our Conference Center is the newly remodeled and art-filled Hotel Murano that reflects the focus of the nearby International Museum of Glass for its décor. Each guest floor features a specific glass artist. Guest rooms include pictures and drawings of these artists’ inspirations. The hotel offers dining and is within easy walking distance of a variety of restaurants. Concerts are a short walk away at the Pantages and Rialto Theaters (both restored vaudeville houses), the Urban Grace Church and the contemporary Theater on the Square.
Your days with us will be filled with activity, beginning with daily Pilates and Dalcroze sessions, Adult and Youth Aficionados, master classes and workshops in the mornings, and concluding with concerts in the afternoons and evenings. The Aficionados sessions provide an opportunity for harpists to play in an ensemble with other harpists. We’ve even left an hour each day free for you to make leisurely visits to the exhibit hall. Need a little break? Nearby in one direction are the Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum and the Washington State History Museum. In the other direction, you’ll find restaurants and antique shops.
We have planned a program with harp in lots of different settings doing works that you’ll want to take home. For more complete information on the harpists who’ll be performing, see the accompanying preliminary Conference Schedule. Students will find many features intended for them, offering real value in their development as harpists. These include master classes, youth aficionados, lectures/workshops (for example, stage presence and pop & jazz) and coaching on harp in chamber music. And when the conference has ended, we hope you’ll take the time to enjoy the natural beauty of our corner of the nation!