Harpist Jennifer R. Ellis is a dynamic contemporary performer who thoroughly enjoys defying traditional expectations of harp playing. It is in that spirit that she became the first harpist ever named a One Beat fellow–a cultural diplomacy program of the U.S. State Department in conjunction with Found Sound Nation.

This program showcases the captivating, innovative harp music written across SFCM from our Composition, TAC, and RJAM departments: showing-off the limitless imagination and sheer virtuosic skill of SFCM composers and the SFCM harp department alike.  The program will include world premieres by Jennifer Ellis and David Garner, alongside works for harp by SFCM composers including Elinor Armer and David Conte as well as showcase new pieces by SFCM student composers written as part of the 2026 Harp Composition winter term project.  

Program

Jennifer R. Ellis: LABA: A Broken Harp

David Conte: Marian Variations

David Garner: Three Spacetimes (World Premiere)
    I. Tropical Dawn
    II.  Neahkahnie Mountain, July 
    III. Jaap Eden Hal 1979  

-Intermission-

Costas Dafnis: Flick (World Premiere)

Mukil Narayanan: The Guitarist’s Song

Corbin Genthe: intonaturality

Mikael Malmgren: Miniature for Harp

Matthew Cmiel: “Sleep, With Thousand Doubts” (World Premiere)
   from Pericles, Act IV Scene 2

J. R. Ellis: Sewing Circle (World Premiere)
 

Featured Artist

Jennifer Ellis, harp