Heart of the Valley Harp Retreat

A packed weekend of varied workshops for pedal and lever harpist of all levels, led by two outstanding teachers, in the heart of the Willamette Valley, Corvallis Oregon.

Julia Kay Jamieson is an energetic performer, dedicated teacher, composer and award-winning harpist living in Champaign, Illinois. If you have ever had the pleasure of attending one of Julia’s workshops you know what a dynamic and engaging teacher she is.  We are lucky to entice her to this part of the country again.  She invites students to improvise in and nurturing and creative environment, bringing out the best inner-harpist in each participant.  Julia has been a featured concert artist, clinician and composer for events such as the Illinois Summer harp class, the annual Harp Day in Eugene, Oregon, and the Canadian International Summer Harp Institute in Vancouver. She has been commissioned to write several harp ensemble pieces including Sea in 2015 for Illinois Summer Harp Class and Creatures for the 2013 High Cascade Harp Retreat. As a founding member of the quartet, The HarpCore 4, Julia has innovatively arranged and performed popular 1980s music throughout the country, including a performance in the 2015 Midwest Harp Festival in Tulsa, OK.

Laura Zaerr continues to pursue her interest in Celtic music and jazz alongside her classical music.  She has taught both pedal harp and Celtic harp at the University of Oregon for 18 years. Over the past 25 years Laura has produced several solo CDs featuring original compositions and arrangements of Celtic tunes as well as recording collaboratively with various musical groups including The Oregon Renaissance Band, Village Green and Trilogy.  She is currently a member of the trio Chuva Boa which plays Latin jazz with a classical bent. She has gained national recognition for her Celtic Concerto, a suite for Celtic harp with orchestra featuring seven traditional Irish tunes.  Her original and innovative harp arrangements meld together a rich heritage of classical technique with the buoyancy and charm of Celtic styling.  Laura also enjoys singing with Kitchen Ceilidh, an a-capella women’s Gaelic singing group based in Eugene.  Laura plays her harp for Hospice in the Corvallis area.