Anne Morse-Hambrock

Anne Morse-Hambrock has been active as a performer of both classical and jazz repertoire throughout the Midwest. She was featured as a soloist in a performance of Alberto Ginastera’s Concerto for Harp and Orchestra on PBS, with MSO concertmaster Frank Almond on the Bruch Scottish Fantasy for Violin, Harp and Orchestra, performing Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and Handel’s Concerto in B flat with the Kenosha Symphony, Claude Debussy’s Danses Sacre et Profane for Harp and Strings with the Northbrook Sinfonietta, and alongside Garrison Keillor performing his Young Lutheran’s Guide to the Orchestra.

Ms. Morse-Hambrock received her early training in Fort Wayne, Ind., as a student of her mother, reputed harpist Nancy Morse. She was a soloist with the Fort Wayne Youth Orchestra at 13, and at 16 was a finalist in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Concerto Competition. At 17, while studying at the Interlochen National Music Camp, she won a full-tuition scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Md., but elected instead to study with Marcel Grandjany protege Ruth Inglefield at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She graduated from Bowling Green cum laude with a bachelor of music in harp performance. She also studied in Gargilesse, France, with world-renowned harpist Pierre Jamet of the Paris Conservatory, and is the only harpist ever accepted as an artist-in-residence by the Wisconsin Arts Board.

Ms Morse-Hambrock’s playing style is a reflection of the input of several acclaimed harpists including Lilian Phillips and Arlene Wangler of the United States, Catherine Michel of France, Madame Aldrovandi of Italy, Marissa Robles of the United Kingdom, and Vera Dulova and Natalia Shameyeva of the former Soviet Union. She specializes in new and avante garde music with several world premiers to her credit and has given a demonstration of extended harp techniques and improvisation to youth at the World Harp Congress. Ms. Morse-Hambrock’s improvisational skills are evident on the recordings of several area artists including WAMI recipient guitarist Jack Grassel, and her debut recording of original jazz and world music has been heard on WLIP and WGTD Kenosha and WNIB Chicago. A collection of her Celtic-inspired original music is currently in production.

Ms. Morse Hambrock is also in great demand as an ensemble player and has served as principal harp either full time or as a substitute with several orchestras including: Kenosha Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, Oshkosh Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Skylight Opera Company, Racine Symphony, and The Chicago Chamber Orchestra. In addition to her Carthage duties and busy performing and recording schedule, she maintains a thriving private studio in Kenosha.

• B.M. — Harp Performance, Bowling Green State University