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 a harpist based in Houston, TX.  She has performed numerous times as a concerto soloist, most recently with the Akademisches Orchester in Leipzig, Germany at the Gewandhaus, and also with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, the Ocean City Pops Orchestra, the Stars in the Classics Concert Series, the Oberlin Mozart Players, and the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia.

Caitlin is an active teacher in harp and piano through Harp Mastery, The Overture School of Music, and her own private studio.  She has extensive experience working with students of all ages and experience levels.  In addition to giving individual private lessons, she is also an experienced workshop, masterclass, and group class teacher.  Caitlin graduated from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, achieving a Masters of Music in Harp Performance with Paula Page.  Previously, she graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, achieving a Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance under Yolanda Kondonassis, and also a second Independent Major called “Communication through Multi-Cultural Music and Movement”.

An avid supporter and performer of contemporary art,  Caitlin is the Harpist and Marketing Manager for contemporary music ensemble Loop38. Before moving to Texas, Caitlin was also the Outreach Director and Harpist for “The Syndicate for the New Arts”, a Cleveland-based non-profit, for 4 years. She has toured, recorded, and premiered numerous works with the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble under Maestro Timothy Weiss, and was heavily involved in the Performance Improvisation Program under renowned world percussionist, Jamey Haddad.

Caitlin studied the piano starting at the age of four, began her study of the harp at age nine, and grew up in Thornton, Pennsylvania.  When she’s not at the harp, she can probably be found reading, enjoying the outdoors, or daydreaming about dogs.

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