Klein Legacy Concert: Sadie Turner, harpist

Sadie Turner, 1st prize winner of the American Harp Society’s National Competition, made her solo debut at age 18 with the Houston Symphony Orchestra as winner of their High School Concerto Competition. As a recitalist, she has performed throughout the United States. In the orchestral arena she has performed with the Houston Symphony, New World Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Arkansas Symphony and the Rice University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. During the summers, she has also participated in several acclaimed festivals such as the Tanglewood Music Center for two summers, the International Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas Music Festival and the Salzedo School for Harp. She will be traveling to Sapporo, Japan for the summer of 2009 to participate in the Pacific Music Festival.

Ms. Turner has had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s finest musicians, having received coachings from the great soprano, Dawn Upshaw and principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ann Hobson Pilot. She has also played under the batons of James Levine, Bernard Haitink, Andre Previn, and Sir Andrew Davis and performed with greats such as Renee Fleming and James Dunham. As an advocate for new music, she performs frequently in groups such as 20/21, a contemporary music ensemble at Rice University, as well as new solo music for the harp. Ms. Turner has had the great privilege of not only performing Elliott Carter’s music, but performing it for the composer himself.

The recent winner of the Young Professional division of the American Harp Society’s National Competition, Ms. Turner is now the current American Harp Society Concert Artist. As the Concert Artist for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons, she will be giving solo recitals across the country. She has also won numerous competitions such as the Ruth Burr Awards Competition, the Texas Association of String Orchestras Concerto Competition, the Houston Symphony’s High School Concerto Competition and the Houston Young Artist Award.

Ms. Turner completed her Bachelor of Music Degree in Harp Performance at Rice University, where she is currently pursuing her Master of Music. Sadie was one of eight Rice music students invited to perform in the Conservatory Project at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C, which features musicians from the nation’s leading conservatories and universities. Only five schools in the nation were invited to participate; Rice’s Shepherd School of Music was a founding participant and has been invited every year since the program began in 2004. She has been a long time student of Paula Page, Principal Harp of the Houston Symphony, and has also studied with Susan Dederich-Pejovich and Alice Chalifoux.

Promenade Series Season Tickets ordered before August 24, 2010 are just $60 for individuals and $175 for families. The season ticket includes all ten (10) concerts. After August 24, the Individual price is $70 and the Family price is $200.

Single ticket prices are: $12 adult, $10 senior, $6 child/student. Group tickets are also available for $8 each for groups of 6 or more.