Weddings, Dinners, Receptions
Ms. Barton' 30 years of experience allows her to tailor her harp music to suit the taste and evnironment the bride and groom strive for. Choices of music can include Pop, Classical, Light Jazz, or Sacred genres. She is prepared to play for the ceremony, reception, bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner, or any combination to suit the needs of the event .
Orchestral
Ms. Barton's orchestral experiences have included 18 years with the Tulsa Philharmonic/Tulsa Opera, 15 years performing as principal harpist with the Tulsa Ballet orchestra, Little Rock Symphony, Ft. Smith Symphony, OK Mozart Amici New York Orchestra, and the Wildwood Opera Festival. She is currently principal harpist with the Signature Symphony in Tulsa, the Bartlesville Symphony, and Light Opera Oklahoma, and occasional fill-in harpist with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.
Leadership
Ms. Barton is the creator and current Artistic Director of the Midwest Harp Academy,http://www.midwestharpacademy.com, a non-profit organization with the emphasis on promoting the education and enthusiasm of the harp in the central and northeast Oklahoma area. The academy also promotes the Midwest Harp Festival, http://www.midwestharpfestival.org, which was created and currently directed by Ms. Barton as well.
Instructor
As a degreed instructor of harp, Ms. Barton is a member of Oklahoma Music Teachers Association and its local affiliation, Tulsa Accredited Music Teachers Association. In addition to her private home teaching studio, she is currently on staff at the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College and Oral Roberts University where she has served as harp instructor for over 22 years. She tailors the learning experience for each student to meet their individual needs and aspirations as harpists whether they are a young child or an adult, career bound or enthusiast.
Educational Background
Ms. Barton received her first harp as a Christmas present at age 10, having already studied the piano since age 5 and viola for 2 years. Her harp studies began with Ona Shreiner of Akron, Pa. and Jane Kauffman Brye of Lancaster, Pa. Even though she had aspirations of becoming a professional singer and began her college studies as a vocal performance major. She soon had new inspiration in the harp throughher harp instructor, Suzanne Davids, causing her to change her major to Harp Performance. Since Suzanne Davids, her only other teacher of influence was the late centenarian, Alice Chalifoux, formerly of the Cleveland Orchestra, Oberlin College, Cleveland Institute of Music, and master teacher of the Salzedo Harp Colony.
Personal Background
Ms. Barton has resided in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the past 28 years narrowing her career field in harp performing, coaching, and teaching. She and her husband, Sam, President of Barton Construction Co., Inc., have 3 wonderful grown kids; Seth (soon to marry to his beautiful fiance' Patricia Gibbons), a student at ITT tech for Construction Management; Kara, an aspiring teenager social worker; Jared who is currently attending the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and head line cook for American Cupcake in the Marina Cow Hollow district.
