Thérèse Hurley, PhD Harpist from Collingswood, NJ

Looking for a professional harpist to add that special touch of elegance at your next event? Then you have found your perfect match with Thérèse Hurley! Highly experienced at Bridgerton-theme parties, bridal and baby showers, full ceremony and casual weddings as well as memorial services, this harpist will take care of those fine musical details, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy spending time with your guests. After a rigorous performance career with the Eugene Symphony and Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, Thérèse returned to her hometown of Collingswood, New Jersey where she currently maintains a private harp studio. Her classical training includes a Bachelor of Music and Graduate Performance Diploma both in Harp Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University studying with international harpist Ruth K. Inglefield. She continued her studies with a double master's degree in Harp Performance and Music History from Temple University where she studied with Elizabeth Hainen, principal harpist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She also holds a PhD in Music History and Historical Performance Practice from the University of Oregon. An experienced orchestral and solo harpist, Thérèse has performed as Principal Harpist with Symphony in C, Delaware Symphony, The Garden State Philharmonic, and Newark Symphony. While an undergraduate, she performed at Les Rencontrès Musicales d'Évian under the direction of Mstislav Rostropovich. As a soloist, she has appeared on Fox 29's Good Day Philadelphia and performed for several years at Caesar's Casino in Atlantic City playing for such notable musicians as the late Tony Bennett. Although classically trained, Thérèse tailors the music to the event so whether you would like a Bach Adagio, an Irish air, Frank Sinatra or the latest hits from Taylor Swift, she will provide the perfect music for the day. As an instructor, Thérèse has been on the faculty of the Peabody Preparatory and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels from beginner through advanced. Her outstanding performance in teaching was recognized out of a pool of over 1,300 graduate student teachers with the Donald and Darel Stein Graduate Student Teaching Award from the University of Oregon. When not performing or teaching, Thérèse enjoys helping customers find their dream harp at the Virginia Harp Center in Haddonfield, New Jersey.