By Biray Alsac
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 10, 1997

Harp to Harp

Photo courtesy of HarpFusion. Arizona Daily Wildcat HarpFusion performs tomorrow night at 8 at Crowder Hall. The group is instructed by music professor Carrol McLaughlin (center). They recently released their third compactdisc, The Best Gift.

The University of Arizona is known worldwide for its program, in the School of Music, specializing in harp. With only 15 members, HarpFusion is the largest touring harp ensemble in the world. The students in this group include undergrads as well as masters and doctoral candidates and are instructed by Carrol McLaughlin, a music professor. "HarpFusion has become synonymous with outstanding and creatively unique concerts throughout Arizona, nationally and internationally," McLaughlin says.

The name for the group is quite appropriate. The members of the ensemble come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and musical traditions. Members include students from Japan, Italy, Puerto Rico and various parts of the United States. Together they "fuse" into one extremely diverse company.

HarpFusion is actually a class in which the students are required to participate in arranging or composing original musical scores and perform them. This year the group had the opportunity to record their third compact disc, entitled The Best Gift, full of festive holiday music. Besides participating in the performance aspect of the CD, they were also involved in the management side. During the recording process, they dealt with everything from producing and obtaining copyright information to designing the layout of the artwork and researching performance rights. All this was accomplished in the midst of the hours of practicing and perfecting their music. This was obviously time well spent. The energy put into the album comes through in every note of every song. Each piece is vibrant, crisp and comforting. It's definitely something that will create a holiday atmosphere whenever it's played.

HarpFusion will be performing for the last time this semester tomorrow night at 8, in Crowder Hall. The concert is free, so why not take a break from those papers and books, come down and close your eyes, open your ears and just listen to what the music has to say.