2024 Presenters OH
Stephanie Claussen
Influenced by her love of fairy tales, Tolkien, and the world music section at her local library, harpist Stephanie Claussen gravitates towards Scottish tunes, Bach preludes, and anything that sounds vaguely medieval or French. After starting harp at the age of seven, Claussen went on to obtain a degree in pedal harp performance from the University of Minnesota. A two-time winner at the Master level in the Minnesota Scottish Harp Competition, in 2018 she won the title of US National Scottish Harp Champion and in 2021 she performed as one of four finalists in the North America Princess Margaret Celtic Harp Competition. As a teacher, Claussen talks a lot about musicality, and believes that even the simplest tunes can be gorgeous when played with expression. Her most recent publication "The Road Home from Skye" features Scottish and Irish tunes arranged for intermediate through advanced lever harp. When not making music, Claussen enjoys repainting her walls and drinking English Breakfast tea out of a real teacup. Website
Hannah Flowers
Hannah Flowers is a harpist and singer from St. Paul, Minnesota. Classically trained from a young age, she discovered traditional Irish music as a teenager and hasn’t looked back since. Known for her sensitive and lyrical accompaniment of songs as well as her syncopated and rhythmic accompaniment of dance tunes, Hannah enjoys exploring the full depth of traditional Irish music and song. In 2020 Hannah was awarded a Fulbright Student award to pursue post-graduate research in Irish harp accompaniment and complete a master’s degree in Irish traditional music at Maynooth University outside Dublin, Ireland. She holds a B.A. in music and a master's degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance from Maynooth University. Hannah enjoys an active performing career, including performances at the Milwaukee Irish Fest, La Crosse Irish Fest, Minnesota Irish Fair, Iowa Irish Fest, the Celtic Junction Arts Center, as well as many solo shows, programs, and workshops across the US and Ireland. Apart from being an active performer on lever harp and as a singer, Hannah is a sought-after harp and voice teacher privately and at the Center for Irish Music, a non-profit community music school dedicated to handing down the tradition. Website
Robbin Gordon-Cartier
Joyful, centered, and a consummate musician are words that describe the presence and playing of Robbin Gordon-Cartier. Dedicated early to the study of the harp, Gordon-Cartier spent long summers as a young harpist in Ireland studying at the Royal Irish Academy. Since then she has appeared nationally and internationally everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the National Symphony of Santo Domingo, at events honoring Lord Guiness, Cicely Tyson and Sir James Galway. Robbin teaches an extensive and very successful harp program in the East Orange School District’s Cicely Tyson’s School of the Performing Arts where she works to bring the harp to the attention of a wide variety of young people, busting stereotypes. Robbin is a Salvi Concert Artist and has presented a week of master classes and concert at the French ambassador’s residence in Bogoto, Columbia for the Salvi Harp Foundation. Most recently, Robbin was presented with the Performing Arts Education Award 2022 from the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts. Robbin is a sought-after presenter of workshops across the country. Robbin has a CD out, Just As I Am and a book based on her harp story, Robbin -The Girl who didn’t want to Practice” by Dorothy Carey. Website
Kim Robertson
Kim Robertson Instructing and Performing at the Harp Gathering in Archbold, Ohio!As one of the pioneers of the American folk harp, Kim Robertson’s approach to the instrument is uniquely personal and original. Trained classically on piano and orchestral harp, she brings an energetic and expressive touch to both her original compositions and her contemporary arrangements of Celtic music. Her skill as a performer has brought her a loyal following and she is an experienced and sensitive teacher as well. Her work encompasses numerous recordings, published harp arrangements, and an international itinerary of workshops and retreats. Her most recent releases are “Christmas Lullaby, Vol 2” (+ companion songbook) and “Fig for a Kiss,” with tin whistle player Brett Lipshutz. Website
Tiffany Schaefer
Tiffany Schaefer has been playing and promoting Celtic music in Northeast Ohio and beyond for over fifteen years. Aided by a background in classical voice and summers in the Ohio Scottish Arts School’s harp program learning from master harpers, she performs regularly with several musical colleagues and is a founding member of the Cleveland Celtic Ensemble, a Celtic chamber music quartet. She also performs as a solo artist; recent accolades include winning the 2022 US National Scottish Harp Championship, and receiving the Scottish Harp Society of America Travel Scholarship to Scotland. As an experienced educator, Tiffany offers private harp instruction and online workshops to a wide international following. Website
TAPESTRY
Denise & Michael Grupp-Verbon
TAPESTRY, featuring Harpist, Denise Grupp-Verbon and Acoustic Guitarist & Multi-Instrumentalist, Michael Grupp-Verbon, is based in Toledo Ohio. Performing and recording together for over 20 years, Denise and Michael have created a truly distinctive sound featuring their unique arranging & composing. TAPESTRY has released 3 CDs, featuring Pop, Celtic, Folk and Original music. In addition, they have also published numerous arrangements and instructional books for solo harp. They perform for scores of concerts, weddings, corporate and private events annually. Michael is also a professional videographer and photographer, he specializes in video documentaries and landscape and wildlife photography. Denise is the Internship Manager for the School of Liberal Arts at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio. Denise and Mike are the founders of The Harp Gathering, now celebrating its 16th year. Website
Thom Dutton
Shortly after earning his B.Mus. degree in 1982 from Houghton College, Thom Dutton was a featured singer at a wedding. It happened that his accompanist was a harpist, and that was his first enchantment with the harp. He moved from New York to Massachusetts the following year; unable to transport his piano with him, he began playing the harp instead. Thus began a span of thirty-five years playing the harp at more than 1,400 performances. Thom has been heard in concert from northern Vermont to northern Florida. He has played for the Lord Mayor of Chester in England, as well as for fundraising concerts in Abingdon, England and Coedpoeth, Wales. He has played more than two dozen nights in pubs across Ireland and Northern Ireland. He was a featured performer at the 1994 International Folk Harp Conference and has played at First Night celebrations for over twenty-five years, in three states. Thom provides elegant background music for any occasion. He has played in venues as varied as Navan Castle in Cavan, Ireland, the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, MA and the 10th hole of J. J. Clammps Mini Golf on Nantucket. Thom has played for dozens of weddings over his long career. He was named Millennium Harper of Cape Cod by Harping for Harmony for having performed in all twenty-nine nursing homes and rehab facilities on Cape Cod. As a church musician, Thom provides musical leadership for Celtic Worship, Taize and other contemplative worship services. Over the years, Thom has been recognized with multiple awards. His honors include the Judge's Overall Performance Award for Outstanding Musicianship at the New England Regional Folk Harp Competition and twice silver medalist at the Mid-Atlantic Folk Harp Competition. He has also received awards for playing incidental music for live theatrical productions: The Evelyn Lawson Award from the Association for Community Theater Excellence for "Eleemosynary" and a Certificate of Recognition Honoring Outstanding Achievement from the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters for "Three Tall Women". Thom has recorded five critically acclaimed CDs and has published more than a dozen books of harp music. Website
Carol Kappus
After many years of singing opera and classical music, Carol has now returned to her first love: playing the Celtic harp and singing the traditional songs of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. She specializes in the music of Scotland: traditional songs, songs of Robert Burns and songs in Scots Gaelic. Carol goes to Scotland frequently to study Gaelic language and song at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye. She is the winner of many awards from the Scottish Harp Society of America and the Great Lakes Regional and the US National Scottish Mòd. She teaches and performs around the Midwest and in Scotland. She is a frequent contributor to The Folk Harp Journal and has published several books of compositions and arrangements. Check out Carol’s web page where you can see videos, hear recordings and purchase her books. Website
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson started playing the harp as a teenager because she was too lazy to practice violin or piano. After years of attending folk harp conferences, she noticed that many adult students were frustrated with their progress on the harp. This motivated her to become a harp coach, encouraging adult students of all abilities to find enjoyment in this magical instrument. Fear of brides inspired her to use her harp powers for service instead of ceremonies; she became a Certified Music Practitioner, and has provided therapeutic music to patients and staff since 2010 on her double-strung harp. Karen was on the Board of Directors of the Music for Healing and Transition Program for nine years, ending as President. She is the author of two books, Enjoy the Modes and Enjoy the Dorian Mode, which take advantage of how harpers use the same hand position for both major and minor chords. Her favorite music to play on the harp is Top 40 hits from the 1960s to today. Website
Jo Lynn Rhodes
Jo Lynn Rhodes is an experienced performer and enjoys sharing the beautify of the harp with local sacred and secular audiences. She received her Bachelor of Music Performance and Master of Elementary Education degrees from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where when resides with her husband and blended family. She is celebrating 30 years in education and currently teaches 1st grade. She is a former student of Denise Grupp-Verbon and credits her for providing a solid foundation in technique and introducing her to the “harp world.” A familiar face at the Harp Gathering, she has near-perfect attendance, having only missed one year! Facebook