Music Composition
Music Composition offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as a minor. The program provides students the guidance they need to express their individuality through their music.
Overview
The harp studio at Hartt is a supportive community of talented, friendly harpists. Learn about harp at Hartt, including undergraduate and graduate admission and audition requirements and faculty information.
About the Major
Harp Ensemble, Repertoire and Studio Class and Harp Teaching Principles are just a few of the courses that harpists at Hartt partake in and enjoy. Orchestral and solo opportunities are many at Hartt, with monthly opportunities to perform solos or chamber music in the Evening with Guitar and Harp concert series. Hartt harpists are encouraged to partake in as many performance, competition and growth opportunities as possible, both in school, and in the vibrant capital region of Hartford.
Admission and Audition Requirements
Please see specific instrument audition requirements by degree below. Learn more about the undergraduate or graduate application process, in-person audition dates, and deadlines.
Undergraduate & Graduate
- Two contrasting solo works
- One étude
- Two to three contrasting orchestral excerpts
Please note: We have students who come to Hartt from across the United States and around the world. That is one of the things that makes a Hartt education so special. Some students are accepted and arrive having had extensive private study on their instruments. Others have had less experience (and perhaps less conventional training), but their natural abilities and great love of music allow them to make remarkable strides in a short period of time because of the expertise of our faculty.
Our requirements are sometimes quite specific to give applicants a sense of where they should be to enter a high-level conservatory environment. However, we encourage applicants to reach out to our faculty members to discuss audition repertoire. It may be that what you have prepared will suffice. Our primary goal is to identify potential, and if we feel that the potential is there, it is then our responsibility to provide each and every student with the tools to be successful.
If you would like to be in touch with a member of the faculty to discuss your audition repertoire, please write to harttadm@hartford.edu.
Our Faculty
Harp Faculty; Artist Teacher
Susan Knapp Thomas brings a wealth of orchestral, show, and opera performance experience to Hartt. As Founder, Director and Instructor of Connecticut Valley Harp Intensive Summer Camp, she possesses skills in Harp Ensemble direction, group and individual teaching experience, and programming and administrative knowledge. Ms. Thomas has had multiple students place in national competitions such as the YAHS Competition, Lyon and Healy Awards, and the Anne Adams Awards., and has judged for the Metro New York Chapter Competition.
Take the Next Step
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