About the YAHS program
mission statement
Our mission:
To educate, inspire, and grow today’s harpists; to serve as an educational and mentoring resource for students, alumni, and the harp community; and to assume a leadership role in establishing new programs, teaching methods, opportunities, and performances for harpists.
Our story
Founded in 2002, the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar has quickly become one of the pre-eminent summer training programs for today’s young harpists. Located at Gerogetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, MD, YAHS is open to pedal harpists ages 12–26 who want to focus entirely on the harp without distraction. The program is designed to improve performance skills and practice habits and intensify preparation for solo performances, orchestral auditions, and competitions. Students are expected to spend a period of time each day in intensive practice. Other time is spent in guided practice, lessons, and masterclasses, along with recreational and social activities.
The Young Artist’s Harp Seminar has nurtured the talents of hundreds of young musicians. YAHS alumni have pursued careers in harp at top music schools and conservatories throughout the country and abroad, including Juilliard, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Paris Conservatory, the Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Roosevelt College, Oberlin Conservatory, Temple University, Rice University, the University of Michigan, the University of Toronto, and the Peabody Institute, to name just a few. Other YAHS alumni have pursued careers outside of music but continue to keep the harp and music an important part of their life.
Our Founders
“We met as teens at an intensive summer orchestra camp in North Carolina. The musical opportunities, fabulous teachers and mentors, and talented peers drew us back year after year, and it was there that we began building a musical foundation that would carry us into our professional careers. YAHS was born out of a great friendship, similar work ethic, and desire to give today’s young harpists an experience of a lifetime modeled after the positive experiences we received as young musicians.”
—Kimberly Rowe (l.) and Susan Bennett Brady (r.)
Our faculty
YAHS and Prep faculty and guest artists include some of the best performers and teachers from around the world. Find out more about them here.
Watch this space for updates about our 2026 faculty and guest artists.





