WXXI Classical 91.5, and the Virtual Little Cafe Present... Harpy Hour!
Join host Grace Browning, RPO Principal Harpist, with the Little Theatre's Scott Pukos at the Vitual Little Cafe on Friday, May 1 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for the second in a series of Harpy Happy Hours! This new online, virtual series presents live musical performances, special guests, great conversation, trivia, and a featured ROC establishment/ local beverage!
In this Harpy Hour, Grace and Scott are joined by Herb Smith, third trumpet with RPO and jazz musician, and Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton, Principal Harpist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
We won’t HARP on you, but you should REALLY join us at the Virtual Little Cafe.
WATCH HARPY HOUR FRIDAY AT 4:30PM BY CLICKING HERE!
More about the artists:
Herb Smith is third trumpet and guest conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor. He is also the director of Jazz Bands at the Rochester Institute of technology and leads his own jazz group called The Freedom Trio. He teaches trumpet for the Eastman Community music School, and directs all-county bands for high school students in the greater Rochester area. Herb also delves into the conducting world leading the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra through his original educational programs. You can find his trio’s music on Spotify, and iTunes.
Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton is Principal Harpist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She is considered one of the most outstanding solo, chamber, and orchestral musicians of her generation, her playing described as having a “wonderful sense of phrasing, balance, and musical sense” (The Globe and Mail). She has performed solo recitals everywhere from New York to Los Angeles, Vancouver to Vienna, and has collaborated with many world-class musicians at the Strings Chamber Music Festival (Steamboat Springs, Colorado), Aspen Music Festival (Colorado), Tanglewood (Lenox, Massachusetts), and St. Barth’s Music Festival (French West Indies). Principal Harp with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 2011, Heidi previously performed as a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (with which she has also appeared as a soloist). She has been a member of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony since 2001. Heidi received her bachelors and masters degrees from The Juilliard School in 2009 and 2011.
More about your Harpy Hour Host
Grace Browning is RPO Principal Harpist. An avid opera harpist, Grace performed four seasons as Principal Harpist with the Dallas Opera and continues to perform with the Santa Fe Opera for their summer season. She has also performed regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and, most notably, with the Houston Symphony Orchestra as Guest Principal Harpist during their 2017-2018 season and European tour. Grace attended the Eastman School of Music from 2005 to 2007, received her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in 2009, and finished her education at The Juilliard School, where she received her masters degree in 2011. She is also a New World Symphony Alum. To learn more about Grace visit her website by clicking here.
