ABOUT LAURA ERICKSON

Laura discovered a love for music at an early age, achieving high honors not only as a harpist, but as a pianist and a vocalist as well.  She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa, where she studied both harp and voice, graduating in 1992 with a degree in vocal music education.

After teaching music for several years in the Kansas City, Kansas public schools, Laura returned to her harp studies at the University of Kansas, where she earned her masters degree in harp performance. Laura is thankful for the legacy shared by her teachers Sandra Bury, Mary Beckman, Alice Chalifoux, and Deborah Wells Clark as they nurtured and shaped the harpist she is today.

Laura returned to her hometown of Des Moines in 1997 and had the privilege of raising 3 children with husband Warren while continuing to work as a professional harpist. She currently serves as a music teaching artist at Grinnell College, and her studio includes students ranging from age 8 to age 58! Many of her past students have participated in the Des Moines Youth Symphony, the Iowa All-State Music Festival, and various honor festivals in the Des Moines metro area. Several students have continued to study harp at the collegiate level.

Laura enjoys performing with various orchestral, vocal, and chamber ensembles throughout Central Iowa. Recent performances include those with the Des Moines Community Orchestra, Simpson College Opera and Community Orchestra, The University of Iowa Orchestra, and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony. With her background in both choral music education and harp performing, Laura continues to find new ways to integrate the two worlds. She has found a “sweet spot” in accompanying choral ensembles (on the harp), but is equally at home singing in her church’s contemporary worship band. Faith and family will always be her highest priorities, and living a life that honors Jesus will always be her pursuit.