National Notes . . .
News you can use, from chapters, regions, and national! Exciting opportunities to gather via video conference continue to bring members together, and chapters are hosting meetings and national programs virtually during the year. New resources are being added regularly to the AHS and AHJ YouTube channels, and plans are in place to offer two dynamic national events in June of 2021: the rescheduled National Conference and the 2021 National Competition finals. Build your community within the AHS and join us as we learn about and serve the harp!

Nominations for new AHS Board members are now open online through November 30th. If you are interested in serving, or you know a colleague who might be well-suited to Board service, please submit your nomination(s) during November. Cycle through the badges on the right side to find "Call for Nominations". You may also download a paper nomination form.
ILLINOIS
Greater Chicago Chapter
  • Harp Day Student Recital – 11/10/2: GCCAHS student members performed on Lyon & Healy's 2019 Harp Day in Chicago.

  • In April 18, 2020 , GCCAHS welcomed Grace Browning (Principal Harp, Rochester Philharmonic and Santa Fe Opera) for a virtual Recital and Masterclass.
Grace Browning Recital & Masterclass with GCCAHS 4/18/2020
  • Greater Chicago Chapter has been hosting monthly virtual Harpy Social Hours, monthly Zoom meetings to catch up and share ideas about virtual teaching, performing, and connecting during the pandemic.
GCCAHS Virtual Harpy Hours happen monthly 
  • Congratulations to Jocelyn Chang for winning 3rd prize in the Young Artist's Harp Seminar and Competition's New Artist Division.

  • Member Zoe Coppola has developed a new curriculum for student harpists called “Happy Harps.”
See @ChicagoAHS on Facebook or @gccahs Instagram for our Scholarship Winners announcement
Roslyn Rensch Chapter
News & Upcoming Events

  • 2020 - Our chapter held our fall meeting virtually and are excited for upcoming events. After elections were held, our latest slate of officers is President: Julia Kay Jamieson, Vice-President: Molly Madden, Secretary: Anna Hirons, Treasurer: Ann Yeung, Newsletter Editor: Angelina Chan, Chapter Support: Danna Powers.

  • We will have our first ever virtual student recital this fall! Members will play for each other as well as residents of a local retirement village that usually host us live but will instead join us via Zoom.

  • Our chapter is working on a virtual harp ensemble piece! Participants will each play a part of the Beatles "Hey Jude" arranged especially for the chapter by chapter member, Julia Jamieson. The individually recorded parts will be skillfully combined by chapter Molly Madden for a super fun music video!

Meetings & Events

  • 10/20/2019 - Visiting Artist-Teacher Joan Holland: Master Class-Presentation

  • 11/10/2019 - Student Harp Recital at Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village: Local students shared their latest harp solos with fellow students and residents of a local retirement village. There was a group harp jam at the end with all participants playing "You Are My Sunshine."

  • 12/15/2019 - Holiday Harps Recital at Champaign Public Library: Members of the chapter both students and teachers shared their favorite holiday tunes. Pop-up recitals at our local library are becoming a fun tradition for our chapter
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Chapter
Chapter News
The Minnesota Chapter is eager to welcome the newest harpist in town: 
Marguerite Lynn Williams was featured on the Minnesota Orchestra's concert Friday, November 20th performing Maurice Ravel's Introduction and Allegro. Ms. Williams joined the orchestra in September 2020 as Principal Harpist and this concert was her premiere performance with the ensemble. The concert was live streamed on Facebook and Twitter, and is now available for viewing on the Minnesota Orchestra's website. Online performances are free and will be available until the end of the 2020/21 season.
·      Marguerite Lynn Williams, Principal Harpist, Minnesota Orchestra
Stephanie Claussen has been keeping her herself busy producing some lovely YouTube harp videos. Here’s what she has to say about this project:

For the past six months I've been using my extra time to make YouTube videos of my playing (combining my love of the harp and of dress-up!). I do pretty much all the filming myself, using my smartphone. I have been learning so much about recording, lighting and editing and I have a long way to go. But these videos have been motivating me to finish new arrangements and practice new material.
Some of my favorite videos: