About Me
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We live in an exciting time, with diverse opportunities to express our deepest creativity through music. I am passionate about preparing and inspiring my students for today’s musical climate and for helping them tap into their unique musical expressions. The Frost School of Music’s innovative and interdisciplinary approach is the perfect place for students to learn the necessary skills to thrive, as well as experience a fertile, supportive environment in which to grow.
Biography
Dr. Laura Sherman is the full-time lecturer in harp performance and music theory. After over thirty years as a highly sought-after performer, teacher, writer, editor, and publisher in New York City, Dr. Sherman is thrilled to share her diverse knowledge and experiences with the students at the Frost School of Music.As a performer, Dr. Sherman has played with many top freelance orchestras (including the New York City Ballet, American Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony), with numerous Broadway shows (including fifteen years as the harpist at “Wicked”), and repeat visits at three summer festivals (Spoleto USA, Spoleto Italy, and Opera North in New Hampshire). She can be heard on numerous recordings, including diverse films and commercials, Barbra Streisand’s 2006 live recording and DVD, Meredith Monk’s 2016 recording, “On Behalf of Nature,” and on two Grammy award-winning cast recordings, “Wicked” and “Hamilton.” Dr. Sherman also toured nationally and internationally with Barbra Streisand and with three Broadway shows, as well as performed numerous solo and chamber music recitals in the New York City area.
As a writer and editor, Dr. Sherman’s articles have appeared in The American Harp Journal, the World Harp Congress Review, the Historical Harp Society Bulletin, the Harp Column magazine, and Musical America. She was the interim editor of The American Harp Journal for two issues in 2017-18.
A specialist in transcribing and performing J.S. Bach’s music on the harp, Dr. Sherman has given master-classes, lectures, and recitals at national and international harp conferences, as well as at colleges and music schools in the United States. At the Frost School of Music, she teaches her “Bach for Performers” class, which is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists.
In 2012, Dr. Sherman founded Gotham Harp Publishing, a harp music publishing company specializing in historically informed transcriptions of early music and new works by contemporary composers.
Dr. Sherman has been featured in Allegro magazine (the publication for Local 802, New York City, American Federation of Musicians) in November 2015, in the Harp Column’s July/August 2012 print issue, as well as their January 2016 podcast. In July 2020, she was invited to be a voting member of the Recording Academy/GRAMMYS.
A graduate of Queens College/CUNY, the Yale School of Music, and the University of Michigan, Dr. Sherman holds four degrees, three in harp performance and one in music theory. She was the assistant professor of harp and music studies at Louisiana University from 1999-2000 and adjunct harp and music studies instructor at Hunter College/CUNY from 2000-2003.
(Photo credit: Jenny Abreu)
Honors & Acknowledgements
Professional Experience
Career Highlights
- Co-chair of the American Harp Society’s 2020 National Conference in Orlando
- Broadway Principal Harpist at Wicked, 2003-2019
- New York City Ballet Orchestra, substitute, 2003-2017
- American Symphony Orchestra, substitute, 2002-2017
- Greenwich Symphony Orchestra (CT), substitute, 2003-2017
- Opera North Music Festival (NH) Principal Harp, 1989-2014
- Tony Awards Orchestra, 2014
- Barbra Streisand, National & International tours, 2006-13
- Broadway Principal Harpist: Peter Pan, 1998-99
- Broadway Substitute Harpist: 42nd Street, Music Man, Oklahoma, Thoroughly
- Modern Millie, The Producers, Beauty & the Beast, 1999-2003
- New World Symphony, Miami, FL, substitute, 1995-97
- Spoleto Festival USA, 1992-96
- Spoleto Festival Italy, 1992-97
- International tours of Broadway shows: A Chorus Line, Evita, 42nd Street, 1986-88
Honors, Awards, Competitions
Fellowship at the Tureck-Bach Research Institute, Oxford, England, 1995Recordings
- “Cheering for Me Now,” Hamildrop recording, 2018
- “Hamilton Instrumentals,” 2017
- “Hamilton Mixtape,” 2016
- Meredith Monk “On Behalf of Nature” recording, 2016
- “Hamilton” Broadway Cast Recording, Grammy award, platinum sales, 2015
- Terry Barber, counter-tenor, “Christmas Presence” recording, 2015
- “Christine” Film Score, 2015
- “Marvin Makes Music,” Marvin Hamlisch’s children’s book and recording, 2014
- “Let it Snow,” pop star Jewel recording, 2013
- “A Family Fitzgerald Christmas,” Edward Burns film, P.T. Walkley composer, 2012
- “The Informant,” Steven Soderbergh film, Marvin Hamlisch composer, 2009
- “This Place I Know,” Stephanie J. Block solo recording, 2009
- “Streisand: The Concerts” DVD, 2008
- “Streisand Live,” Grammy nominated recording, 2007
- “Wicked” Cast Recording, Grammy award, double platinum sales, 2004
- “Morton Feldman: Coptic Light” recording with the New World Symphony, 1998
Publications & Presentations
- Interim editor of The American Harp Journal: Summer 2017 & Winter 2018, http://www.harpsociety.org/Publications/Journal/Extras/Index.asp
- Musical America, “New Artist of the Month: Harpist Abigail Kent,” February 2018, https://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?archived=0&storyid=39758&categoryid=2
- The American Harp Journal:
- “AHS Grant Program: Studying the Italian Baroque Triple Harp with Mara Galassi,” The American Harp Journal, Winter 2018, Vol. 26, no. 2, p. 62-69. https://harpsociety.org/publications/journal/extras/winter2018/8.html
- “J.S. Bach on the Harp,” The American Harp Journal, Winter 2012, Vol. 23, no. 4, p. 26-33. “Continuing Marcel Grandjany’s Legacy with Susan Jolles,” The American Harp Journal, Winter 2011, Vol. 23, no. 2, p. 34-42.
- “Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro: History and Lore” by Laura Sherman with Jane Weidensaul, reprint, The American Harp Journal, Winter 2000, Vol. 17, no. 4, p. 19-25.
- Historical Harp Society’s Bulletin, “The 10th Annual ‘Festival le Arpe in Villa,’” Historical Harp Society’s Bulletin, Fall 2017, Vol. 27, no. 1, p. 21-22.
- Harp Column:
- “Role Models,” Harp Column, November/December 2018, https://harpcolumn.com/blog/what-makes-a-musical-role-model/
- “Give My Regards to Broadway,” Harp Column, July/August 2018, https://www.harpcolumn.com/give-my-regards-to-broadway/
- “Unforgettable,” Harp Column, July/August 2017, Vol. 26, no. 1, p. 19., https://www.harpcolumn.com/unforgettable/
- “Harp Goes Hip Hop,” Harp Column, Jan.-Feb. 2016, Vol. 24, no. 4, p. 10-11., https://www.harpcolumn.com/harp-goes-hip-hop/
- World Harp Congress Review, “Insights on Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro: History and Lore” by Laura Sherman with Jane Weidensaul, World Harp Congress Review, Fall 1997, Vol. VI, No. 3, p. 11-15.
Features
- Interview in Allegro, New York City’s Local 802, American Federation of Musicians’ magazine in November 2015. https://www.local802afm.org/allegro/articles/following-her-passions/
- Harp Column interview, July/August 2012 print issue. https://harpcolumn.com/magazine-2/july-august-2012/
- Harp Column podcast, January 2016. https://harpcolumn.com/blog/harp-column-podcast-episode-2/
- Lecture-recitals & master-classes on Bach and the Harp: Prague, Czech Republic, Sydney, Australia, New York, Atlanta
