Harp Spectrum

About Us

Harp Spectrum is an educational organization dedicated to gathering and sharing information about all kinds of harps and harp music. We are mainly composed of a group of harp players and harp music fans. Our article contributions come from harpists all over the world and we are continually seeking additional material. Please feel free to contact us at any time at joyce@harpspectrum.org

Harp Spectrum is...

Joyce Rice (Chair) began harp lessons at the age of four. Over five decades she was an active freelancer and principal harpist with numerous orchestras in New England/New York and the Pacific Northwest. Joyce is also well known as a harp arranger, composer, and pedagogue. She studied with Gladys and Kenneth Custance of Boston and with Bernard Zighera of the Boston Symphony, and holds a music degree from Wellesley College. She can be reached at joyce@harpspectrum.org. Her publications can be seen at Melody's Music and her personal website.

Sadly, Patricia Jaeger, co-founder of Harp Spectrum and valued friend and advisor, passed away in November 2020. She was a past president of the Greater Seattle Chapter of the American Harp Society. She owned and operated Herald Music, producing her own harp and ensemble arrangements (now available from Afghan Press). Originally from Swarthmore, PA, she began her study of music with violin before the age of four and went on to earn her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in violin and music literature from the Eastman School of Music. She also studied for a year in Germany, presenting two concerts, and then relocated to Seattle to study harp with the late Edith Lundgren for nine years. Mrs. Jaeger's past teaching credits include teaching beginning harp in the Seattle School District, as well as night courses for the public for sixteen years. She taught privately at her home studio and also for North Seattle College from its opening in 1970, and free-lanced in the Seattle area.

Jim Wooster (Treasurer) is an engineer by education and experience, having retired from Boeing in 1996 after 35 years as an engineer and an engineering manager. Jim's experience in the harp world comes from being married to Patricia Wooster, a well-known classical harp performer and teacher in the Puget Sound region and leader in national and international harp organizations. Jim assisted Pat with the financial aspects of the Sixth World Harp Congress in Tacoma in 1996, and with the 39th American Harp Society Conference in 2010, also in Tacoma, and he continues to act as a behind-the-scenes helper in Pat's activities with AHS, WHC, and various Tacoma orchestras.

Bob Zawalich (Webmaster) is the third generation of Harp Spectrum webmasters. Bob was a software designer at Microsoft for 15 years, and has degrees in computer science and music composition. He is a guitarist and composer (one of his harp compositions has been recorded by Harper Tasche), and does technical support for www.reigningharps.com, the Northwest folk harp newsletter that is published by his wife Diane Moss. He also writes plug-ins for Sibelius music notation software.

John Carrington (Special Projects Assistant) received his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music after earning his Bachelor of Music from the University of Washington. John was Guest Principal Harpist of the Seattle Symphony for several seasons with regular performances with the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestras. Along with his orchestra, chamber and choral accompanying work, John is active as a freelancer playing for a wide range of special events. In addition he has participated in the recordings of more than 50 motion pictures including "Mr. Holland's Opus."

Susi Hussong (Assistant Editor) was educated at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music and the Summer Harp Colony of America Salzedo. Susi moved to Hawaii to be first harpist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Besides playing for the opera and various musicals, Susi performed a wide variety of functions including weddings,inauguration ceremonies, grand openings and radio programs. She has recorded five albums with flutist Susan Gillespie. Susi relocated to Seattle and has been freelancing here as well as teaching harp privately.

Steven Burgon (Counsel) has graciously contributed his time and legal expertise.

Credits and Thanks!

Harper Tasche (Co-Founder, Former Board member) holds a unique and prominent place in the folk harp world. He is best known for his ground-breaking performances, compositions, and recordings with the small harp, the cross-strung harp, and the buzzy bray harp. Harper's music is both lyrical and complex, seamlessly weaving together original compositions with historical, classical, and traditional Celtic, Scandinavian, and European repertoire. His credits include headline performances at major folk harp events in the United States, Canada, and Ireland; over twenty recordings, nine books of harp music, international radio and television broadcasts, feature film, and numerous composition commissions; prize-winning performances in pop & jazz harp and traditional Scottish harp and voice; and the title "Millennium Harper of Washington State" from the Harping for Harmony Foundation. More information about Harper is available at www.HarpCrossing.com, and several videos of Harper's performances for International Artists' "Crescendo!" TV program are available on YouTube.

Harper Tasche passed away on March 6, 2023, and is greatly missed.

Deb Seymour (Former Development Director and Webmaster) is a musician and harp enthusiast who has worked in the non-profit world for over 25 years in public radio, Victory Music, environmental conservation and the peace activist network. She is also a singer/songwriter with three CDs out. You can catch two of her most requested songs on YouTube: "Little Zenn Car" (about her electric car), and "Mama Wears a Hard Hat". Deb can be reached at her own web-site at www.debseymour.com

Bonnie Pulliam (Former Harp Spectrum publicist) is an active harp teacher and performer who directs "Celtic Harps" and performs with "Harps of the Rockies", two ensemble groups in her home state of Montana. She is currently studying cross-strung harp and is involved in numerous harp related activities. She holds a BA from the University of Montana.

Colin May and Jason Wood (Former Webmasters) received the webmaster baton from the incomparable Deb Seymour. Colin is a former schoolteacher and accomplished drummer now working as a web developer, while Jason brings ten years of professional software engineering experience to the mix. Neither plays harp but both share a lifelong interest in music of every kind.

Many thanks to Cynthia Kuni for the Harp Spectrum logo design, NSCC's CIS 211 class (Spring Quarter 2000) for the original site design, and all those who have contributed their time, knowledge and aid!