2025 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
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
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
Beth Stockdell
Beth A. Stockdell is a professional harpist and artist in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In 2023, she released her third album of harp music. She has been involved with the Folk Harp Journal for over 18 years and the Editor-in-Chief for ten years. All sheet music used in the FHJ is selected by her.
In addition to being a harpist, Beth is a lifelong artist and fanatical bookworm. She has explored many mediums over the years and found her happiest place working as a paper artist. Most of her work recently is handcrafting and creating blank books, artist's books, making pop-ups, doing calligraphy, drawing, and other creative endeavors with paper and mixed-media. She is a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and loves sharing this art form with others. The beautiful part of these different areas of exploration is combining them into her art processes in surprising ways. All of Beth’s work reflects her love of color, nature, and the desire for the peace we all need in today’s world. Website
Christina Tourin
She began playing harp at the age of four. She received Music and Education degrees from the University of Vermont and also studied harp at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and at McGill University in Montreal. After her studies in Counseling/Psychology at the University of Vermont and training in Resonant Kinesiology under the tutelage of Susan Borg, she continued on to receive her Music Therapy training at Arizona State University under the directorship of Barbara Crowe. As an International recording and touring artist, she has concertized extensively. She is an active workshop organizer and has been instrumental in the revival of the folk harp since the early 1970″s. In 1982 she founded the Scottish Harp Society of America and is the Founder and Director of the International Harp Therapy Program established in 1994. Healing with sound, working in hospitals and hospices, the labyrinth, composing, teaching, and writing books round out her full life. 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
Deette Bunn
Deette Bunn says it was love at first sight but it took a year of persistent parental persuasion before she started harp studies when she was 9. Classically trained with a Bachelors and Masters degree in harp performance, Deette has soloed with orchestras throughout the US and has held several principle harp positions as well. She discovered the lever harp - both single and double strung - during her 17 year stint as 2nd harp with the Syracuse Symphony and has been an active teacher and performer on the single and double strung lever harp ever since. Deette recently retired from the faculty at Cornell and Syracuse Universities and Lemoyne College, giving lessons on both pedal and lever harp, as well as from being the director of Harmony of Harps, a local lever harp ensemble for which she has written numerous lever harp arrangements. She is a harp therapist using both single and double strung harps at her local hospital and hospice. She continues to teach privately and perform, primarily on lever harp and double strung.
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
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
Joy Slavens
Joy Slavens is from Laurel, DE and is a teacher, music director, writer, and performer. Joy began studying piano at age seven, and has been giving lessons for more than thirty years. After seeing a harpist at her own church, she became fascinated with this unique instrument, and began studying under Rebecca Smith of Crofton, MD for eight years. Joy teaches many piano and harp students in her music studio at her home. She is currently the music director of Centenary U.M. Church, in Laurel, DE. Joy loves to create new arrangements of many styles of music, and writes original compositions and publishes her music which is sold throughout the U.S. and has been favorably reviewed by harp publications. Joy also has a harp ensemble, Expressions of Joy, which performs several times a year. They perform for churches, libraries, retirement communities, with a variety of styles of music. Music is Joy’s passion and she is forever grateful to have been blessed with the gift of music. She finds it to be rewarding that many others get to share in this gift through her music, or by learning for themselves. Serving God is also her passion, doing whatever He asks, whenever He wants, while being His vessel to be used by Him bringing others closer to Him. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Psalm 108:1 Website
Pat Tait
Pat Tait graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, as a voice performance major, taught vocal music for 46 years to children aged 18 months to 14 years, retiring in 2016. Pat plays and has taught piano, guitar, recorder, ukulele, mountain dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, and lever harp. She has been a member of several choral groups over the years and has been singing with the Plymouth Oratorio Society since 2002. Pat received her first harp for her birthday in 1990 from her husband, Jim. The harp was part of their professional dulcimer trio, Felicity Strings, who performed together for almost 20 years. Now, Pat mostly performs solo. In June of 2019, Pat started the Happy Harpers harp circle in Southeast Michigan. Currently, the circle meets virtually online weekly. FaceBook
TBA
Coming Soon. Website