Included with these NYC premieres will be World Premieres of the two AHS 2012 Conference commissions by NY composers Michael Torke and Lowell Liebermann performed by Sara Cutler, NYC Ballet Orchestra Principal Harpist and Sivan Magen, founding member of the Israeli Chamber Project, respectively. A dessert reception will follow in-between this concert and the second evening concert presenting Latin-jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda.
For the first time in AHS conference history, the Historical Harp Society will be included to perform on Renaissance and cross strung harps for the middle night concert of the conference. Sunday, July 1, the first of this evening's dual concerts will feature members of the HHS and present Cheryl Ann Fulton playing the arpa doppia, an Italian baroque triple harp. Another dessert reception will pause the action before Park Stickney's jazz performance.
Monday, July 2, the final night concert will showcase New York jazz harpist Brandee Younger and Sci-fi harpist Erin Hill to AHS Conference attendees. (See their Youtube videos on this Website.) A midnight madness sale in the exhibits hall will follow this evening's concert and dessert reception.
Four chamber music concerts have been scheduled featuring established harp ensembles and extraordinary compositions for harp with winds, brass, and strings. Other events include a tribute to the Founders of the American Harp Society featuring harpist Kathleen Bride, Professor of Harp at the Eastman School of Music, and a program MC'd by Carl Swanson, Erard Gothique: King of the Harps, featuring performance on Carl's 1892 Erard Gothique.
Instruction from former RCA/BMG producer Andre Gauthier will help harpists to know how best to record their harp performances with particular regard to CD entries for the AHS Competitions. A panel discussion with young harpists "making it" in NYC, called "Putting Your Music Degree to Work", will help graduating harpists know what to do next.
Master classes will be taught by Sara Cutler, Yolanda Kondonassis, Sivan Magen and Cheryl Ann Fulton. A concert featuring JS Bach transcriptions will also be offered including a special class on JS Bach taught by Laura Sherman, harpist for the Broadway musical Wicked. A raffle drawing will give lucky winners the opportunity to enjoy a backstage tour of the Wicked production Sunday afternoon, July 1.
The Conference will close with fashion advice by harpist-designer Arielle. A staged presentation will include the best designs for performers from different concert perspectives and answer questions about great stage presence. The Metropolitan Museum of Art will display many of its harps in a museum exhibit during the conference. This is a must-see to attend before leaving New York.
