About

Faye Seeman, principal harpist of the renowned Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra since 1993, is adjunct professor of harp studies at Wheaton College and Northern Illinois University. With both bachelors and masters degrees in performance,(BA Eastern Michigan University, MM Boston University), Faye balances her experience as a solo performer and orchestral player with her extensive background in teaching to support a diverse free-lance career in music.

She was principal harpist of the Joffrey Ballet from 2002-2012, and was recently featured soloist with the Hubbard Street Dance Company, partnering with the dancers while playing William Grant Still's Ennanga for harp, piano and string orchestra. Faye has since performed the piece as soloist with the Galesburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Birch Creek Festival Orchestra in Door County, Wisconsin.

As founder of the "Kithara" flute, cello and harp trio, she has led the group to notoriety with its broadcast work on "WTTW's 30 Good Minutes", the recording of two Kithara Trio CD's, and published many arrangements for the group through Lyon and Healy Harps West. The trio currently performs in recitals and churches throughout the Midwest, featuring program titles such as "America the Beautiful," "Beau Soir" and "A Garden of Musical Delights."

Faye has distinguished herself as one of the most versatile harpists in the Midwest by venturing away from playing traditional classical music. She and several colleagues from the Chicago jazz community established the "ZigZag" Jazz Harp Quartet (harp, piano, bass and drums), exploring an eclectic blend of jazz, classical and new age styles of music. Their CD "Caught" features several of Faye's own compositions, several jazz standards and free improvisation.

In memory of her father, violinist and conductor Ernest Seeman, Faye commissioned noted Chicago composer Gustavo Leone to compose "Como un Sueno", a concerto for harp and orchestra, which premiered in 2006 at the Birch Creek Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin. Since then the work has been played many times throughout the United States, and continues to be a favorite with conductors and orchestral musicians alike.

Summers Faye is on the faculty of the Birch Creek Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin, and is guest lecturer at Midwest Harp Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

As a solo artist, Faye completed her first CD, "Nearer to Heaven", in 2010 recorded at Bastyr University chapel in Seattle, Washington. The disc features several original compositions along with transcribed favorites. For more information on teaching videos, ordering CD's and published music, or other background, log onto fayeseeman.com.