Harpist Serena O'Meara

I always arrive early, set-up and tune as quietly as possible, then wait for my start time. My "tag line" is that "I work like the Devil to play like an Angel" - it is a very true statement. No matter what the genre of music, I perform my best to make the music sing out and meet the expectations of the person who hired me.

By age 3, I was telling my world that I intended to be a professional harpist. I had several teachers, but the most influential were Gladys Hubner and Eileen Malone. Gladys had traveled in Vaudeville Troupes and recorded for silent movies before playing for many decades in NYC. Eileen was harpist in the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and faculty at the Eastman School of Music. Both women believed in and encouraged the development of my creative talents.
My bachelor's degree is Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota. I did my internship at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, KS. My first Music Therapy position was at the VAMC in Topeka. The Big Band Era Vets on those locked wards certainly kept me practicing. There were some amazingly knowledgeable and talented musicians there!
No matter where I lived, I worked evenings and weekends as a harpist. While in Idaho, I played summers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Nat'l Parks (Rock Resorts).
I married and settled in my Wisconsin hometown in 1986. Since then I have focused on my harp career - performing, teaching, publishing, and recording (6 CDs). I have played with many orchestras, chamber groups and choirs. This has allowed me to locate other great musicians to duo/trio with.
I maintain a teaching studio of 45 students.
And I perform at incredible events!
Life is interesting!

My harps do not like to sit in the sun or be in cold/hot drafts for long periods of time. I like to have access to electricity. Red stage lights affect the color of the strings - making them disappear!