In its 29 year history, the GreenSpring Summer Harp Institutes have provided training to hundreds of talented harpists from across the United States and around the globe. From the novice to the advanced student, harpists focus on individual goals and musicianship classes in a supportive and inspiring musical environment. In addition, they receive one-on-one lessons with our distinguished faculty. Special seminar topics and fun social activities keep students engaged while also piquing their musical interests. We know students are thrilled with our course offerings as 90% of our students have returned year after year!

2025 DATES

Richmond Summer Harp Institute

July 7th - 11th, 2025

Richmond, Virginia

APPLY HERE

The Ultimate Summer Harp Experience!

Summer is the perfect time to be inspired by world-class faculty, grow as a harpist and concentrate on your artistic development! Our Summer Harp Institute includes two tracks: intermediate (open to all) and advanced (audition only).

The Richmond Summer Harp Institute Includes:

Four private harp lessons affording you ample opportunity to work with each one of our world-class teachers!
Your choice of academic electives- Music History, Composition and Arranging, Music Theory and Aural Skills, Arts Management, and more
30 Minutes to Transformation guided practice
Your choice of workshops- Audition and Competition Panel, Wellness for Musicians, World Music and Rhythm Workshop, The Orchestral Harpist, Career Seminar, Practice Like a Pro!, Introduction to Improvisation, Conducting, Yoga and Stretching for Harpists, and more!
Ensemble and performance opportunities
Harps available for use at in-person Institutes
Fun social activities, and more!

*The above is a Full Day Schedule, the Half Day option includes the private lesson, 30 Minutes to Transformation and workshops

Harpists may also attend the Maryland Summer Harp Institute, Richmond Conservatory Preparatory Program, and Richmond Summer Chamber Music!

GreenSpring Faculty and Guest Artists

Faculty

GIAM Faculty

CLAIRE JONES - Former Royal Harpist

CHRIS MARSHALL

TREY NUNNALLY

Krista Hagglund

2025 Guest Artists

Claire Jones - Former Royal Harpist

Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1985, Claire began her musical education at the age of seven. After excelling at the violin, piano and harp, she graduated as a harpist from the Royal College of Music with First Class Honours in 2007 and in 2009 graduated as an M.A. scholar from the Royal Academy of Music. Claire Jones was one of the first recipients of the Prince of Wales Advanced Study Awards in 2007 and 2008. This award recognised her as one of Wales' most outstanding young talents. In 2007, Claire was appointed Official Harpist to His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, a role she held until 2011, making her the longest serving Royal harpist to date. During this appointment, Claire regularly performed for the Royal Family and their distinguished guests at the Royal Palaces. In April 2011 she performed for the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at their wedding reception in Buckingham Palace. In 2008, Claire made her concerto debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and since then has gone on to perform as a soloist with some of the World's leading orchestras. Claire is passionate about promoting her instrument as well as performing, and regularly visits schools and communities to speak and demonstrate and is the director of the International Harp School based in Wales. This year will be the third year of the partnership between Summer Harp Institutes based in Richmond, VA with the International Harp School in Wales.

Gloria Galante

Versatile and dynamic as a performer, deeply committed to teaching community and using the harp as an instrument of healing, Gloria Galante is inspiring. Gloria has toured worldwide performing Jazz, Classical, Latin, African ad Pop genres. She has appeared with such great stars as Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Jose Feliciano, Luther Vandross, Odean Pope, Tyrone Brown, Cecil Bridgewater, Warren Oree, Monnette Sudler to name a few.
Gloria and Odean Pope were paired together as a musical duo in 1998 by Alice Coltrane. The CD entitled Pope - Galante has received much airplay and recognition in the jazz world. They performed a concert celebrating John Coltrane’s Birthday Concert in Philadelphia. They completed a Pew Grant Project awarded to Odean Pope. This year long project of original compositions composed by Odean Pope called Sounds of the Circle.
Equally dedicated and experienced as an educator and performing artist, Professor Galante is the founder of the Wells School of Music Harp Program at West Chester University, PA . The harp program is in it’s thirty third year. Gloria is the director of the WCU Harp Ensemble and Community Harp Ensemble, Musicopia ensemble leader, and serves on the prestigious PA Council of the Arts as a teaching artist.
Gloria has thirty recordings and compositions. She produced two therapeutic cds raising funds for the Cancer Cure research. She is a CMP, certified music practitioner and advisor for MHTP.org Music for Healing and Transition program. Ms. Galante has a music ministry as she mentors students on each level, as well as performs in hospitals and hospice. (Gloria plays for Crossroads Hospice in the Gift of the Day Program) .
Gloria has made history as the first CMP to provide therapeutic music In Vitro Fertilization patients to reduce anxiety during transfers at the Abington reproductive medicine.com/ toll center at Abington Hospital. She participated in a two year medical study completed by Dr. Barmat in 2001. Ms. Gloria Galante is currently providing therapeutic live harp music for IVF Patients during their embryo transfers.

Past guest artists include:

Jacquelyn Bartlett, Grace Cloutier, Mindy Cutcher, Grainne Hambly, Abigail Kent,

Joan Raeburn Holland, Janet Witman, and many more!

Location

The Richmond Summer Harp Institute is located in historic Richmond, Virginia. Spend your summer exploring the historic downtown, learning exciting repertoire, and making new friends!