Musical guest: Stephanie Claussen

Although Stephanie Claussen has been specializing in Early and Renaissance harp music for over seventeen years, her diverse repertoire encompasses classical, folk, pop, and sacred music. She began learning harp at the age of seven when her father built her first harp from a Musicmakers harp kit. After studying harp for eleven years with Twin Cities professional harpist Cathy Victorsen, Claussen realized that, for her, making music needed to be more than just a hobby. She obtained her Bachelors of Music in performance at the University of Minnesota under the instruction of Kathy Kienzle, principal harpist of the Minnesota Orchestra. She is the 2018 US National Scottish Harp Champion and a 2017 recipient of MRAC’s Next Step Grant. She was awarded an “Arts Tour” Grant in 2014, as well as several grants through the American Harp Society over the past few years. Mel Bay Publications, Inc. published her book of harp arrangements, “Light so Brilliant: Christmas Carols and tunes for solo harp” in 2016. She runs a private harp studio from her home in St. Paul and performs for weddings, in concerts, and with various ensembles throughout the upper midwest.

Stephanie Claussen, Professional Harpist