Harpist Laura Goldstein developed her love of music at an early age. Growing up in a home with a pipe organ technician father and an organist and piano-teaching mother, music was a natural part of everyday life. From singing along while her older brother played the piano, to her own piano lessons, to finding "her" instrument in the harp, music has been central to her life.
After receiving the gift of a small harp from her parents, Laura began taking lessons with renowned harpist Elizabeth Richter while attending Ball State University as a history major. Her love of the instrument was instantaneous. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Laura attended the University of Toronto, receiving a masters degree in Medieval Latin and Old Irish. In Toronto she continued her musical journey with harpist Lori Gemmell.
The following year she returned to Ball State University to focus on harp performance at the graduate level with Elizabeth Richter. In addition to presenting classical solo recitals and lecture recitals on the Irish harp, Laura performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles. She also performed in master classes with eminent harpists Lucile Lawrence, Beatrice Rose, and Alice Giles.
She has served as Principal Harp with the Marion Philharmonic (IN) and as Substitute Principal Harp with the Indianapolis Symphony, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and the Birmingham Philharmonic (AL). As Second Harp/Substitute Principal she has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (TN), the Fort Wayne Philharmonic (IN) and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (AL).
After graduating in 2000 with a masters degree in harp performance, Laura moved to Chattanooga, TN, where she was appointed to the faculties of Southern Adventist University, Lee University, and Covenant College. She taught for two summers at the Interlochen Summer Music Camp (MI) and for six years at the Jan Pennington Gray Harp Camp (TN). She has also served as a Curatorial Assistant at the Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix, Arizona.
In addition to her university teaching, she established a highly successful private teaching studio and was the founding director of the Chattanooga Harp Ensemble, a group of ten amateur harpists who shared their love of the instrument, giving several concerts each year for the community. In 2008, she combined her love of Irish stories and harp music by creating "Harps n' Tales," an evening of Irish stories and music.
One of the most important and meaningful aspects of Laura's career has been performing soothing music for patients and their visitors at local hospitals and nursing homes. For several years she was the staff harpist for Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, where she wheeled a small harp through the corridors, playing at the bedside, in the hallways, and in waiting rooms and she has also played for the Harp Foundation of Phoenix. She is a Certified Clinical Musician and serves as a mentor for the Clinical Musician Certification Program (www.harpforhealing.com).
Laura is a newcomer to beautiful North Carolina, where she lives with her husband in the city of Burlington. Her husband, Rabbi Meir Goldstein, is the Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon University. She also enjoys reading, painting, and calligraphy. The website for her calligraphy is www.elioraketubah.com.
The following year she returned to Ball State University to focus on harp performance at the graduate level with Elizabeth Richter. In addition to presenting classical solo recitals and lecture recitals on the Irish harp, Laura performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles. She also performed in master classes with eminent harpists Lucile Lawrence, Beatrice Rose, and Alice Giles.
She has served as Principal Harp with the Marion Philharmonic (IN) and as Substitute Principal Harp with the Indianapolis Symphony, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and the Birmingham Philharmonic (AL). As Second Harp/Substitute Principal she has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (TN), the Fort Wayne Philharmonic (IN) and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (AL).
After graduating in 2000 with a masters degree in harp performance, Laura moved to Chattanooga, TN, where she was appointed to the faculties of Southern Adventist University, Lee University, and Covenant College. She taught for two summers at the Interlochen Summer Music Camp (MI) and for six years at the Jan Pennington Gray Harp Camp (TN). She has also served as a Curatorial Assistant at the Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix, Arizona.
In addition to her university teaching, she established a highly successful private teaching studio and was the founding director of the Chattanooga Harp Ensemble, a group of ten amateur harpists who shared their love of the instrument, giving several concerts each year for the community. In 2008, she combined her love of Irish stories and harp music by creating "Harps n' Tales," an evening of Irish stories and music.
One of the most important and meaningful aspects of Laura's career has been performing soothing music for patients and their visitors at local hospitals and nursing homes. For several years she was the staff harpist for Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, where she wheeled a small harp through the corridors, playing at the bedside, in the hallways, and in waiting rooms and she has also played for the Harp Foundation of Phoenix. She is a Certified Clinical Musician and serves as a mentor for the Clinical Musician Certification Program (www.harpforhealing.com).
Laura is a newcomer to beautiful North Carolina, where she lives with her husband in the city of Burlington. Her husband, Rabbi Meir Goldstein, is the Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon University. She also enjoys reading, painting, and calligraphy. The website for her calligraphy is www.elioraketubah.com.