Nebraska Harp Retreat
August 2-7, 2024
Brownville, Nebraska
Our 2024 retreat was a blast!
Stay tuned for next summer’s dates, to be announced in early 2025!
Foundation.
Having the right tools to play and practice makes all the difference. And you don’t have to have it figured out already! We’re all learning & this is THE place if you want to take your playing to the next level. We’ll cover the basics & then step it up a notch (or two!) to make sure your technique and skills are in tip-top shape.
In addition to your 2 private 1-hour lessons over the course of the week, as well as a masterclass with Doug Rioth, former Principal Harp of the San Francisco Symphony, we’ll dig into practice tips, elevating your performance skills, self-evaluation of your own technique, warm-up routines, audition excerpts, writing your own compositions and more!
Dreams.
If you listen carefully, there’s probably a small voice inside of you saying, “I wonder if I could….” or “I’d love to do that…!” I want you to listen to that voice & to dream your BIG dreams! Through discussions and reflection, we’ll discover your strengths and passions and then develop action steps to make those dreams come true!
Our time together will be to assess where you are and where you want to go, whatever level you are at! Dream big, make plans, and set your schedule to accomplish what you want to achieve!
Creativity.
It can’t all be work and no play! Our creative spirit needs to be unleashed and nurtured and finding outlets for it is an important activity, too! Be prepared for light-hearted fun at this workshop that will translate to your music, playing and friendships, which will ultimately transform your life!
Brownville, NE is a quaint village filled with cultural experiences and artistic activities. The workshop will include art classes by local artists, museum tours, a theater performance, and a river boat dinner cruise. Other Brownville attractions for family and friends include area hikes, coffee & decor shops and a local winery.
NHR: Community Harp Day!
Community Harp Day is an open invitation for harpists in the Nebraska/Iowa/Kansas/Missouri area to participate in the Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat for a day and to get to know the Brownville village.
Our 2024 Community Harp Day will include a masterclass and concert with Julie Phillips with family-style dinner at the Muir House afterwards. Masterclass participation cost and dinner = $50; those auditing the day & attending dinner = $25.
Please fill out this form to reserve your seat for the all of the day’s activities!
Information about the 2024 Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat
The Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat is open to all harpists who desire a focused retreat experience to take their playing to the next level. With the arrangements at the Muir House, this retreat is open to various ages and can accommodate multiple levels of players. If you are wondering if this experience is right for you, please reach out to nebraskharp@gmail.com for more information. Although the final number of workshop participants will be small, we will try to accommodate everyone we can!
Schedule: The retreat will be filled with activities to build upon your current level of harp playing. Each student will receive 2 private lessons with Julie Phillips as well as harp classes which will be geared towards activities fitting the workshop participants. Classes topics may include orchestra/ensemble playing skills, orchestra repertoire, technique study/composition, I-pad skills, eurhythmics training, etc. In addition, students interested in harp ensemble will rehearse in small groups in preparation for the final concert on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 7pm. All participants will have free time to practice and explore Brownville as well as opportunities for classes with local artists. Evening activities will include a production at the Brownville Village Theater, a river boat cruise on the Spirit of Brownville, concerts by Julie Phillips and more!
Monday, August 5 (example schedule)
8am - breakfast
9am - harp ensemble rehearsal or class at CH / compositions / etudes
10am - practice time / lessons
12pm - lunch in Brownville
1:30pm - Shading Class with local artist / farm tours / art class
3pm - practice time / lessons / free time
5:30pm - dinner
7pm - practice/free time
Repertoire: Harp participants are asked to come prepared with one performance-ready solo piece (to work on polishing), one in-progress piece (to work on practice techniques) and at least one orchestra excerpt of their choice. In addition, interested participants will be given harp ensemble music to prepare for performance at the workshop’s final concert.
Fees: Tuition / 2 Private Lessons / Housing / Meals / Activities $950 per student. Full payment is due by July 1, 2024.
Tuition includes 2 private lessons with Julie Phillips, harp classes, Community Harp Day masterclass, concerts, all accommodations and meals for the retreat. Also included are activities, art classes, dinner cruise, theater performance and more! Scholarships are available for participants in need.
Participants will stay at the historic Muir House in Brownville. Rooms are double occupancy with a shared bathroom.
Parents who are interested in staying in Brownville during the week may arrange for a room at the River Inn Resort in Brownville or at other local accommodations.
To Apply: In addition to submitting your application, applicants are encouraged to submit a recorded video of their current level of playing. Repertoire should consist of 2 contrasting pieces (10 min in length, total) as well as an orchestral excerpt of your choice. These videos are used to assign appropriate level of ensemble music for the harpists. Video recording should capture the full instrument and performer in the screen. No need for close-ups on the hands or feet.
Materials and/or links may be sent to nebraskaharp@gmail.com. Application payment of $30 may be mailed by check to 3984 Syme Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008 or sent via Venmo to @harpjas. Application can be found here. Applications are due April 1, 2024. Ensemble repertoire will be sent out the week of June 10, 2024.
Scholarships: Scholarships may be available for select individuals and students are encouraged to apply. If interested in a scholarship, please complete this application in addition to your NHR application. Scholarship applications are due April 1, 2024.
Directions: Brownville, NE is located in the Southeast corner of the state of Nebraska. It is 75 miles from the Omaha, NE airport and 105 miles from Kansas City, MO airport.
Harps: Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own harps, although a small number of instruments may be available to rent from the Lincoln/Omaha/Kansas City areas. If a rental harp is needed, please note that on your application. Securing a rental harp and payment to harp owners are the responsibility of the attending student.
Harpists rehearsing their ensemble music.
Photos from the previous Nebraska Harp Workshop, 2016. Rehearsals at Peru State College.
Post concert photo with all of the workshop participants!
Hosted lunch at the home of the Peru State College’s President.
Make a Donation
If you would like to assist in funding the Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat, please consider making a donation. All of the funds go towards underwriting this and future summer’s workshop retreats, providing scholarships to our participants, and assisting with travel expenses for guest artists. Even a small donation will help! And thank you!
