Supporting and Preserving
the Art of the Harp
American Harp Foundation
Overview
Founded in 1993, the American Harp Foundation houses numerous educational funds in which donations are held for specific educational projects, such as scholarships, awards and prizes, each in accordance with the intent of the original donor.
As of 2023, the American Harp Foundation is more inclusive, with a full array of investment tools for all non-profit American harp organizations, including classical, folk, historical, and jazz. With an extraordinary 30-year record the Foundation has successfully helped many harpists with scholarships and awards. Your donations will be a secure investment with the American Harp Foundation. Come be part of this rich legacy, either as an individual or with your musical organization!
Legacy Opportunities
The Foundation houses many named endowment funds. There are numerous opportunities for donors to support the Foundation, including an online donation portal. Contributions by individuals or chapters to funds established prior to 2023 will benefit programs and activities of the American Harp Society and its members. Donations to newer funds or the General Memorial Fund may benefit other harp organizations and individuals or the American Harp Society. Each of you can help the Foundation to grow. You can be a part of that legacy.
DONATE
Your donation to the American Harp Foundation helps fund our educational projects that provide scholarships and awards to young harpists.
NEWS
2012 Anne Adams Winner, Katherine Siochi
The 2012 Anne Adams Award Winner, Katherine Siochi joins the San Francisco Symphony as principal harpist in the 2023–24 season.
2020 Grandjany Winner, Hannah Cope Johnson
Our 2020 Grandjany Memorial Competition Winner has won the position as Principal Harp of the Metropolitan Opera!
2020 and 2022
Anne Adams and Grandjany Memorial Competitions
Jointly released in conjunction with the American Harp Society’s 60th Annual Conference
Foundation Members
Sally Maxwell (1935–2013), Founder, President Emeritus
Wenonah Govea, Founder, Emeritus
Foundation Board of Directors
Carrie Kourkoumelis, President
Kathleen Bride, Vice President
Holly Avesian, Secretary
Penny Howk Beavers, Treasurer and Donor Relations
Frances Duffy, Competitions Director
Kristina Finch
Elizabeth Huntley
Paula Page
Foundation News
The 2024 recipients of the Anne Adams Award and the Grandjany Competition have been announced. See the News page for details.
For Questions:
Contact Foundation President
Carrie Kourkoumelis by email
or
American Harp Foundation
28 Cargill Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Send Donations to:
American Harp Foundation
c/o Penny Beavers
646 Worcester Drive
Cambria, CA 93428-3230
Photo courtesy of Patricia Gilhooly.
History of the American Harp Foundation
Foundation Founders
Burton Adams, Wenonah Govea, Sally Maxwell, Jack Nebergall, Ruth Papalia, Dorothy Remsen
In 1990, a small group of long-time members of the AHS foresaw the potential of housing large donations and scholarship funds for the American Harp Society in a separate organization. It was their objective to hold the funds where they could grow and be used only for the purpose intended by donors. For 25 years these funds have been used to award scholarship funds for college students, national competition winners, high school students attending summer camp, and harp students in extreme need.
In 1993, the then-American Harp Society Foundation began three new awards: the Nebergall Award, the Karl Carlson Award, and the Doris Calkins Award. The Foundation now houses many separate funds. These funds will continue to benefit the American Harp Society and its members in perpetuity, but new donations to today’s American Harp Foundation may be directed to support other harp organizations and harpists.
Each fund within the Foundation is designated for a specific purpose. Only a portion of the interest/gains is given for each award and scholarship, thereby creating and building an endowment to ensure the funds and their growth in perpetuity.