Pedal Harp Makers
I love their designs, the quality of sound, the affordability, and more than anything I love the customer service! My next harp is going to be a Venus. Kudos to the Krasicki family for a great product!
I play a Salvi Diana, manufactured in Italy. Elegant harps with beautiful, intimate, delicate sound... A little more pricey, but gorgeous nevertheless. Salvi harps are sold in the US through Lyon and Healy, and their distributors.
Powerful and reliable harps with bright, full sounds, great for ensembles! Always a lot of fun to play! Lyon and Healy has been manufacturing harps out of their Chicago factory for many years. And the factory is worth seeing, they give really cool tours!
These French harps have hit the market with a vengeance! The harps are very light (they use optic fiber instead of wood for certain parts of the harp), and have a good sound, although I find the spacing a little awkward at first.
Lever Harp Makers
I have to admit I don't own a lever harp, but friends and students swear by these harps... They are beautiful, and I am told that they have a beautiful sound, too.
Ok, so same thing. Don't own one, but they have a great reputation. Definitely a brand I would trust if I was looking for a lever harp.
For Used Harp Websites, click here.
Resources
Job postings, classified ads, links to universities and colleges with harp programs, summer camps, festivals, harp makers, and a lot more!
Traditional music and harp shoppe. Great selection of music (and I mean, GREAT!) New and used instruments, strings, CDs, and a lot more. Register to be on their email list and get updates on new publications, etc.
Journals and Publications
The AHS provides a variety of services to US harpists. From competitions, to scholarships, to conferences. They also publish a directory of all members, which can be very useful. The journal itself targets a more academic reader, but it comes with lots of useful information. They also publish the Teacher's Forum, and Uncle Knuckles (for kids).
A World wide organization with representatives from more than 50 countries, dedicated to promote the harp, to encourage young performers, and to publish a journal and a member directory every year. They also organize an International conference every three years.
Other Websites of Interest
I just registered with them last week, so you will not find my name there (yet). But some of my students are listed, and they have had pretty good success finding performance opportunities...
...and being found by students looking for a harp teacher in their area. These two sites show up in every internet search, so they are worth considering if you are thinking of going pro.
How do I describe Healing Harps? It is a not-for-profit organization, where members from all walks of life come together to celebrate musicianship, friendship, and life. They also offer a Teacher Training, 5-module program, designed to obtain a Certification as Professional Service Musician.