Biography
A well-known and widely respected harpist recognized for her attentive playing, quick adaptability and musicianship, Susan Knapp Thomas has enjoyed an active performance career with orchestras in both the north and the south. Ms. Thomas is Principal Harpist for the Hartford Symphony, and for the Waterbury Symphony in Connecticut, and was recently featured as concerto soloist with Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra, performing Camille Saint Saens’ Morceau de Concert. In Florida, she performs actively with the Orlando Philharmonic, Space Coast Symphony, Southwest Florida and Palm Beach Symphonies and has served as Acting Principal Harp for Brevard Symphony Orchestra in Melbourne, Florida.
Equally at home in orchestra pits for shows and opera, Ms. Thomas has played regularly for shows at the Goodspeed Opera House, in addition to touring shows for the Bushnell and the Shubert Theaters in Hartford and New Haven, CT. She has also been a regular at the Connecticut Concert Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and the Vero Beach Opera in Florida.
As a chamber music artist and concerto soloist, Ms.Thomas appearances include The Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, the Trinity College Summer Concert Series, the Elektra Chamber Ensemble’s Music Series in Farmington, Connecticut, performing Handel’s Concerto in Bb, the National Flute Convention in concert with flutist Brad Garner, and multiple performances as part of the Sarasota Musica Viva series in Boca Grande and Bradenton, Florida.
Ms. Thomas has done regular work for the Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra Jr. shows. Her backup work includes shows for such notables as Judy Collins, the group “Yes”, the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Peter Cetera, and others. Her CD, Everlasting Sunday, was a finalist considered by the Greater Hartford Arts Council for one of their donor level gifts. She is also recorded on the Opus label.
Ms. Thomas is currently Instructor of Harp at The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut. A passionate instructor and educator, Ms. Thomas is the Director and Founder of the Connecticut Valley Harp Institute Competition and Workshop, now in its 12th year. She has served as an Effective Competition Preparation Coach for such national competitions as the Anne Adams Awards, and the Lyon and Healy Awards, and judged the AHS MetroHarp Competition in New York City. Her students have been prize-winners and finalists in multiple national competitions. She is Co-President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Harp Society.
Ms. Thomas is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, and a student of Eileen Malone, Phyllis Wright, Aristid von Wurtzler and Barbara Pniewska.
Everlasting Sunday is an eclectic collection of serene pieces for solo harp, all performed by professional harpist Susan Knapp Thomas.
Ms. Thomas has added her own edits to several pieces, and has provided a variety of music from the Baroque, French Impressionist and Contemporary periods. Reminiscent of a quiet Sunday morning, the collection of music on Everlasting Sunday is designed to sooth its listener, and is guaranteed to add a compelling dimension to any environment in which it is played.