Laura Smithburg Byrne received her Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Alice Chalifoux. As a professional harpist she has performed as an orchestral harpist for Symphony orchestras, Ballet companies, Opera companies, Broadway shows and popular rock-n-roll concerts. The many fine organizations she has performed for include: The North Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Ballet, Louisville Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Joffrey Ballet, Utah Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Toledo Symphony, and Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra. She played for Broadway Productions including Cinderella and the Sound of Music. She has also performed for Johnny Mathis and the Moody Blues.
Mrs. Byrne performs frequently at churches of all denominations as a soloist or with choir and other musicians. She also performed for many years in hospice settings as a healing harpist volunteer and at hospice memorial services.
Click here to find out more about Laura's Healing Harp work.
Laura Byrne is frequently engaged as a harpist entertainer for receptions, corporate events and wedding ceremonies and may be available for your event.
Click here to find out more about Special Events .
DEGREES
1989
Master of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music
1985
Bachelor of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music
Principal Teacher: Alice Chalifoux
EDUCATION
An accomplished and versatile musician she has also taught harp at the university level including the University of Louisville, Southern Baptist Seminary, Gustavus Adolphus College, and at the MacPhail Center for the Arts. Currently, Laura Byrne is the harp instructor at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2005 - present
Duke University
2005 - present
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill
1997-2002
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
2001-2002
Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, KY
1991-1995
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
1991-1995
MacPhail Center for the Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1986-1989
Cleveland Institute of Music, Preparatory Dept.
ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE
2002-present
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
Grant Llewellyn, Robert Minczuk, William Henry Curry, Carolyn Kuan (conductors)
2002-present
North Carolina Ballet, Al Sturgis, Conductor
1997-2001
Louisville Orchestra, Assistant Principal
Uri Segal, Conductor
Max Bragado Darman, Conductor
1996-2002
Choral Arts Society
Jim Rightmeyer, Principal Conductor
2001
Broadway Production: “Cinderella”
1995
Minnesota Operat: Turandot
George Manahan, Conductor
1995
San Francisco Ballet
1995
Utah Ballet: Nutcracker
1994
Minnesota Orchestra: Ring Symphony
Edo de Waart, Conductor
1992, 1993, 1994
Joffrey Ballet: Nutcracker
Allan Lewis, Conductor
1993
Leiv Eriksson International Festival: Concerto Soloist
David Ulfeng, Conductor
1993, 1994
The Moody Blues
Larry Baird, Conductor
1991
Minnesota Opera: Carousel
Dale Johnson, Conductor
1991-1992
Plymouth Chamber Music Series
Phillip Brunelle, Conductor
1987-1990
Toledo Symphony, Assistant Principal Harpist
Yuval Zaliouk, JoAnn Falétta, Olé Schmidtt, Conductors
1989
Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra
Recording Credits:
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Concerto soloist Choral Arts Society of Louisville – 1999; with members of the Louisville Orchestra
-
Kentucky Chamber Players – 1999
-
Stephen Foster Story Louisville Orchestra – 1997
-
Arts over Aids – Aaron Kernis, composer – 1995
with members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra -
Music from Leading to Bejing – Libby Larson, composer 1995 voices of Global Women, Clarion Award winner for documentary
- We Come to Your Feast – Michael Joncas – 1994
(composer of “On Eagles Wings”)
