Loretta O'Driscoll
Biography
I started Silver Strand Studio two years ago. I am passionate about playing and teaching harp. Here's my story.
I began studying music at the age of six, learning piano first and then flute. I began studying harp at the age of 12 and soon thereafter made it my primary instrument. My first harp teacher was Kathleen Bride, an internationally recognized harp instructor.
At age 16, I became the principal harpist for the New Jersey Youth Symphony and was a member of that orchestra for two years. I performed at Carnegie Hall with the Youth Symphony in 1988 and went on tour to Poland with them in 1989.
In 1990, I began studying with Elizabeth Cifani at Northwestern University. I performed frequently with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra and with the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble. I was also a member of Wild Clover, an Irish folk music group based in Evanston, Illinois. In 1994, I graduated from Northwestern with a Bachelor of Arts in Music.
After a five-year career working in publishing and advertising in New York, I decided to return my focus to music. I was accepted to Eastman School of Music and once again studied with Kathleen Bride. While there, I performed frequently with the Eastman Harp Ensemble, New Eastman Symphony, Eastman Philharmonia, Eastman Women's Chorale and Composer's Sinfonietta. As part of a graduate award, I taught harp lessons to Eastman students and to non-music majors from the University of Rochester. I also maintained a small studio of private students. I graduated from Eastman in 2001 with a Master of Music in Harp Performance and Literature and went on to perform with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Louis Children's Choir and the Saint Louis Women's Chorale.
Throughout my life as a harpist, I have performed as a soloist in concert and at private functions. I have also led harp demonstrations in classrooms and for school assemblies.
I live in Montclair, NJ with my husband and daughter.