Julie Ann Smith

Concert artist and orchestral musician Julie Ann Smith has established herself as one of the most stimulating young harpists today, gaining international recognition for her charismatic performing style and diverse repertoire. Principal Harpist of the San Diego Symphony, Ms. Smith was the Silver medallist in the 2004 USA International Harp Competition and Bronze medallist in 2001. She made her National Symphony Orchestra debut in 2003 and has been honored in numerous competitions throughout the country. Her other honors include grand prizes in the Corpus Christi International Young Artist Competition and the Midland/Odessa National Young Artist Competition, both open to all instrumentalists. Julie Ann Smith will also serve as YAHS 2010 Guest Artist. Learn more about Julie Ann Smith.

Ina Zdorovetchi

Ina Zdorovetchi has received numerous awards an honors, including Second Prize at the 2005 Paris International Harp Competition, First Prize at the 2002 Bucharest International Harp Competition, and an Outstanding Achievement in Chamber Music Award at the 2007 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Most recently Zdorovetchi received Second Prize at the 2009 International Harp Contest in Israel, where she also received the Chamber Music Award and the Propes Prize. Ina Zdorovetchi is on the faculty at the Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division. Learn more about Ina Zdorovetchi.

Gillian Benet Sella

Gillian Benet Sella, Principal Harpist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was formerly Principal Harpist of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.  Highlights of her career include performances with James Galway of the Concerto for Flute and Harp by Lowell Liebermann, a flute and harp recital in Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York for the Mostly Mozart Festival, and the Ginastera Harp Concerto at the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.  In 1999 she performed at the World Harp Congress in Prague with the Radio Prague Symphony Orchestra and in 2000 and 2006 she played at the American Harp Society National Conference.  She has also performed as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and at the Festival Estival de Paris. Gillian Benet Sella is on the faculty of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

Marcia Dickstein

As Founder/Artistic Director and harpist with The Debussy Trio, Marcia Dickstein has been enticing new audiences to the harp in chamber music and solo with orchestra, and inspiring composers to write new works in classical and jazz genres. She has performed worldwide with The Debussy Trio and plays with Los Angeles Opera, Long Beach Symphony, and has over 300 film credits. Her many CDs include solo chamber music and solo with chorus.
Adjunct Professor of Harp at Cal State University/Long Beach, Santa Barbara City College and Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo, CA, Ms. Dickstein holds Master Classes throughout the USA and maintains a private studio in Los Angeles. Her transcriptions and scholarly editions of solo and chamber music for professional and student level harpists are published by Fatrock Ink of Los Angeles. Learn more about Marcia Dickstein and The Debussy Trio.

Lynne Abbey-Lee

A regular contributor to Harp Column magazine, Lynne Abbey-Lee has received acclaim for her recent arrangements of solo and ensemble pieces for harp. Now primarily devoted to chamber music and teaching, she spent 21 years as Principal Harpist of the Colorado, Richmond, Shreveport, and Flint Symphonies. She has been on the faculty at universities in Colorado and Virginia, and has given master classes at the University of Michigan. Her teachers include Alice Chalifoux and Ruth Dean Clark. She performed at the World Harp Congress in Geneva with the seven-harp Salzedo Ensemble, and has also appeared at conferences of the American Harp Society and the National Flute Association. Learn more about Lynne Abbey-Lee.

Delaine Fedson

Delaine Fedson is harp instructor on the faculties of the University of Texas at Austin and Southwestern University. Delaine is a Suzuki Association of the Americas registered Harp Teacher Trainer, and recently founded the University of Texas Harp Project, a pedagogy and preparatory program for young students and new teachers. Delaine has taught nationally and internationally at workshops, festivals and conferences throughout the U.S., Canada and Italy and has maintained a thriving private studio in Austin, TX, since 1986. Delaine also performs frequently with the Dallas Opera, and the Austin, San Antonio, Waco and Ft. Worth Symphonies, and enjoys a variety of national and international performing collaborations with voice, woodwind quintet, flute, clarinet, and viola colleagues. She holds a B.M. degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a M.M. degree from The University of Texas at Austin and spent many summers studying with Alice Chalifoux at the Salzedo School in Camden, Maine. Learn more about Delaine Fedson.

Robbin Gordon-Cartier

Robbin Gordon-Cartier is harp instructor at the Cicely Tyson School of the Performing Arts in East Orange, N.J. in addition to maintaining a private teaching studio. Robbin's performance credits include appearances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Pablo Casals Music Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She performs with the New Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, and currently serves as Second Vice President of the American Harp Society. Robbin graduated from Montclair State University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. Learn more about Robbin Gordon-Cartier.

Ann Yeung

Ann Yeung is Associate Professor of Harp and Chair of the String Division at the University of Illinois School of Music at Urbana-Champaign. Currently Editor of the World Harp Congress Review, Ann recent activities include master classes in Mexico City, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taipei; world premieres at the National Flute Convention in New York City and the Tenth World Harp Congress in Amsterdam; performances at the 20th Soka International Harp Festival in Japan, First Asian Harp Fesitval in Hong Kong, 2nd International Harp Festival in Mexico City, and International Computer Music Conference in Montréal; and presentations at the American Harp Society’s National Summer Institute and the American String Teachers Association National Conference. Upcoming activities master classes and a lecture on Parish Alvars at the Royal Academy of Music in London and a world premiere at the Twelfth World Harp Congress in Vancouver. Ann is a contributing author to the ASTA book A Harp in the Schools: Guide for School Ensemble Directors and Harpists. She has also served as Second Vice-President of the American Harp Society and is co-chair of the 2012 American Harp Society 50th anniversary Commission Project committee.

Seeking Judges

If you are a harpist of high moral and artistic character who is interested in serving on the judging panel now or in the future, please e-mail us.