Faculty

Naomi Hoffmeyer is Principal Harpist of both the California and Corpus Christi (TX) Symphony Orchestras. She has played Principal Harp in the Spoleto USA (SC), Atlantic (ME), New Hampshire, and Verbier (Switzerland) Music Festivals. She has performed as a guest musician with ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony and Ballet, as well as the Houston Symphony and Ballet.

Naomi currently teaches private students at her home studio and in the Fort Bend ISD, and was a harp ensemble coach in the Fort Bend Regional Orchestra program in November 2017. She received her Master of Music and Artist Diploma Degrees with Paula Page at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, and also trained under Douglas Rioth and Ann Hobson Pilot at the San Francisco and New England Conservatories. In addition to her conservatory studies, she greatly credits much of her musical and personal development to her time spent at the Interlochen Arts Academy.

While maintaining an active musical schedule, Naomi is an enthusiast of the culinary arts and holds certification in Pâtisserie and Baking from the California Culinary Academy. She grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and spends her spare time hiking, knitting, and swing dancing.

You can find more information about Naomi here: NaomiHoffmeyer.com

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Caitlin Mehrtens is the principal harpist of the Houston Grand Opera, and also serves as Harpist and Co-Leader for Houston-based contemporary ensemble Loop38.

Her extensive performing career includes soloist appearances with the Akademisches Orchester in Leipzig, National Repertory Orchestra, Texas Music Festival Orchestra, Ocean City Pops Orchestra, Stars in the Classics Concert Series, Oberlin Mozart Players, and Orchestra Society of Philadelphia.  As an orchestral musician, she has performed with the Houston Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Spokane Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Symphony, and more.

In addition to performing, Caitlin greatly values her role as teacher and mentor to students of the harp.  She serves as Adjunct Harp Professor at the University of St. Thomas, teaches through the Certified Coaching program at Harp Mastery, and maintains her own private studio.

Caitlin completed her Masters of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under Paula Page.  Previously, she graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance under Yolanda Kondonassis, and a second Independent Major called “Communication through Multicultural Music and Movement.”   She grew up in Thornton, Pennsylvania with a very musical family.

You can find more information about Caitlin here: CaitlinMehrtens.com