Lorelei Kaiser Barton - Harpist

I am a graduate of Lamont School Of Music, University of Denver and have been performing as well as teaching for the past 41 years. I am in my 34th year at Oral Roberts University as a faculty member, and a 21 year adjunct instructor at The University of Tulsa. It has been my pleasure to be principat harpist with Tulsa's Signature Symphony, Bartlesville Symphony and Light Opera Okahoma. For 15 years I performed as principal harpist with the Tulsa Ballet and have occasionally played 2nd harp/substitute principal in the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.
My Chamber Music experience has included "Duo Arioso" flute and harp duo, "Harpeggio" harp duo and most recently, "Love Notes" with oboist Lise Glaser.
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I have been privileged to be the founder and former artistic director of the Midwest Harp Academy now going into it's 21st year, now in Chicagoland. Along with that I have been able to direct several local harp ensembles whose performances include the OK Mozart Festival in Bartlesville, TulsaFest Summer Music Camp at Tulsa Commnunity College, Tulsa Mayfest and other numerous venues.
I am a former certified teacher with Oklahoma Music Teachers Association and local music affiliations such as TAMTA and Hyechka

I have studied under Jane Kauffman Brye of Lancaster, Pa, Suzann Davids, formerly of the Denver Symphony and the late centenarian Alice Chalifoux (former principal harpist with the Cleveland Symphony) under the baton of George Szell.

I prefer to play accoustically as much as possible. I play on concert grand harps which provide a big sound, amazingly carrying throughout a crowd of 300 people or less. If amplification is required, I can advise on an individual basis.

Different colored lights with little or no light is a challenge for harpists. Our harps have blue and red colored strings for reference, which means if blue or red lights are directed toward us, those particular strings are wiped out as our reference. Since we use peripheral vision when reading music, we need light to see our strings, not to mention the music itself. I always carry a standlight which helps if dim lighting is required but prefer to discuss this issue on an individual basis.