Join us for Harpy Hour as we celebrate music and The Hochstein School's 100th anniversary.
Join host Grace Browning, RPO Principal Harpist on Friday, May 8 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the third in a series of Harpy Happy Hours LIVE on WXXI's Facebook page. In this Harpy Hour, Grace will joined by Grace Wong, former RPO harpist and Hochstein harp teacher, Kathleen Kemp, Assistant Principal Cello of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Randy Kemp, The Hochstein School's Facilities Director and their son Mike Kemp, Principal Timpanist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra along with Mike's wife Anna. Also on the show, Paul Knoke, a local harp historian (with a harp museum in his house!) who will share one of his antique harps with a short historical performance.
Harpy Hour is an online, virtual series that presents live musical performances, special guests, great conversation, trivia, and a featured ROC establishment/ local beverage! This week's feature beverage is wine from Fulkerson Winery, the oldest continuously operated Finger Lakes winery.
WATCH HARPY HOUR FRIDAY AT 5 PM BY CLICKING HERE!
Grace Wong is on the string faculty at The Hochestein Schoo. She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory with further studies at the Manhattan School of Music. Principal harpist with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Won second prize at the Fifth International Harp Contest in Israel and made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1974. Has served as jury member for the International Harp Contest, American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition, and as a board member of the American Harp Society.
Kathleen Murphy Kemp is Assistant Principal Cello of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and has been a full time member of the RPO cello section since 1977. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, she earned a Bachelor of Music and the Masters of Performance and Literature as well as the Performers Certificate. Kathleen serves on the Collegiate and Community Ed faculties of the Eastman School as well as the Hochstein School. She is the Coordinator of the Orchestra Studies Diploma Program and mentor of the secondary cello teachers at Eastman.
Mike Kemp, a native of Rochester, was appointed Principal Timpanist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in 2015. Prior to this,he served as the Principal Timpanist of the Erie Philharmonic in Erie, PA. In demand as a Guest Principal Timpanist, Michael has appeared with many orchestras including the Detroit Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, and the Reading Symphony. He has also performed as a percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and can be heard performing on the NAXOS label. Michael received both his Bachelors and Masters degree in Percussion Performance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he studied with Edward Stephan, Chris Allen, Andrew Reamer, and Jeremy Branson of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Mr. Kemp attended Cleveland State University where he studied with Tom Freer of the Cleveland Orchestra. Michael previously served as the Principal Timpanist of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO and has attended the Aspen Music Festival, Brevard Music Center Institute, and the Chautauqua Music Festival. Mr. Kemp is a proud endorser of Freer Percussion products and Remo drumheads.
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.
