The Harp: Its history, music, and how it works is the topic of the music master class with Frances C. Duffy on Friday, April 1 starting at 11am in Orange Hall, room 23.

A multi-genre musician who plays in classical, show, and pop ensembles of large and small sizes and occasionally sings arias as well as the National Anthem, she owns and plays several harps. In addition, she plays the bass trombone.

However, on April 1^st, she will be highlighting the harp ~ harps through history, including the early Renaissance and the Italian Triple. She’ll also give explanations of Early Single Action Pedal and Double Action Pedal types of harps as well as harp strings. The strings come in several colors and lengths; materials and gauges (thicknesses); all of which impact the sounds. While she talks about the various harps, she will demonstrate on her harp and play solo pieces. And she will allow attendees to “touch the strings” and ask lots of questions.

Frances C. Duffy received BFA and MM degrees in music performance from Carnegie Mellon University and an MM in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She continued her education under the direction of André Tarantiles at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University where she earned her DMA.

Duffy is Principal Harp of the Wheeling and Allentown Symphony Orchestras and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and also serves as second harp for the American Ballet Theatre orchestra at Lincoln Center. She has performed as harpist for the Broadway production of Wicked, My Fair Lady, The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, and The Fantasticks. She has performed at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and River City Brass Band. In addition, she has played with the New York Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, the Albany Symphony and the Hartford Symphony under conductors including Keith Lockhart, Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit, and Lorin Maazel.

Please join us in room 23 of Orange Hall for a great learning experience. The public is welcome. This class is free.

Questions may be directed to cultural@sunyorange.edu and see website www.sunyorange.edu/culturalaffairs