Who is this for?
The Houston Youth Harp Ensemble was founded with the goal of serving middle and high school aged harpists in the Houston area. Harpists outside of this age range will be considered on an individual basis and with recommendation from their private teachers.
What’s your attendance policy?
Concert attendance is mandatory.
We expect all students to prioritize HYHE rehearsals, but we understand that sometimes conflicting commitments arise. Please notify us in writing as soon as you know that you will need to miss a rehearsal.
NEW as of Fall 2022:
In order to keep up with the group, students who miss a rehearsal for any reason will be required to submit recordings of their parts to whatever was covered in that week’s rehearsal. Parts may be recorded with a metronome or while playing along with the practice tracks on the HYHE YouTube page.
Please submit your best effort after no more than 90 minutes of recording (the amount of rehearsal you are missing), and send your recordings in the form of YouTube links (Unlisted) to houstonyouthharpensemble@gmail.com no later than the Monday following the missed rehearsal.
The success of any ensemble depends on the participation of its members, so students who miss multiple rehearsals may risk the ability to participate in future HYHE semesters.
What’s your cancellation policy?
We are able to offer a 50% tuition refund if notified of cancellation before the final registration deadline.
Unfortunately we are unable to refund tuition after the registration deadline has passed.
I don’t play a pedal harp. Is that a problem?
Not a problem at all. Both pedal and lever harps are welcome!
Do I have to bring my harp?
Yes. Harpists are required to bring their harp and bench to all rehearsals and concerts.
Is there parking near rehearsals and concerts?
Yes, there is a small parking lot at our rehearsal venue (5771 Enid St, Houston, TX 77009), with a ramp and easy access for harp moving!
What about tuning?
All harpists are required to tune their own instrument and are expected to arrive no less than 15 minutes prior to the start of ensemble rehearsal to tune. Harp students should have a pick–up that attaches to their tuner to allow for them to tune in noisier spaces.
If for any reason a harpist arrives after the start of a rehearsal, they can tune quietly in the hallway and join the ensemble at an appropriate moment.
What if I don’t know how to read music?
A minimum of one year of harp lessons is suggested. Parts will be assigned ahead of time; for those concerned about their reading ability, there will be ample time to prepare your part before the first rehearsal. Students are welcome to modify parts if needed, but parts are assigned with each student’s ability in mind.
Houston Youth Harp Ensemble 