Terri Langerak, Harp

Terri Langerak

Harpist

As a child, Terri Langerak dreamed she was a magical fairy with beautiful butterfly wings, playing a harp & singing. No harp was to be found, so she began classical piano studies in San Diego at the age of 6 & went on to perform with her middle & high school jazz bands on piano. Her Harp studies began at SMSU (now MSU), where she also continued on piano, and studied mallet percussion as well. She performed regularly at SMSU with the marching band (xylophone), concert band (harp & various mallets), orchestra (harp & mallets), percussion ensemble (mallets), & occasionally with the choir (harp) & jazz band (vibraphone). After performing a senior recital on harp, she was given special recognition for her outstanding achievements on the harp in such a short period of time & graduated with a BA in Music.

During the 1980’s she performed on harp regularly with the Springfield Symphony, the traditional Irish Band ‘Ceol Rince’, the Irish Duo ‘Od’s Bodkyns’, along with solo performances. She relocated to St. Louis in 1988, commuted for one season to Springfield to play with the Symphony & Opera Theater, then resigned to focus on her solo career. She has given solo concerts locally at a variety of locations, including the Sheldon Concert Hall.

In addition to classical music, Terri is equally at home playing classic rock, pop, standards, Latin, Irish, & various other styles, with a special interest in jazz & improvisation on the harp. She loves pressing the edges of what the harp can do, playing both electric & acoustic concert harps. She is also an accomplished songwriter & arranger, with 3 recordings of originals (harp & vocals), and one Christmas CD. She has performed & recorded with ‘Autumn’s Child’ for special concerts since 1995. As a freelance harpist, she plays for local churches, nursing homes, public concerts, & many private events.

As a teacher, she maintains studios in Wentzville & Maplewood, with 30 private students. She has taught Harp for SLPS Visual & Performing Arts programs for 11 years, & her students have earned a score of ‘1’ at the annual MSHSAA Solo & Ensemble Festivals (local & state) for 6 years in a row. She has created her own teaching materials, including a Harp Primer for ages 4 - 6, and is currently working on a guide to Improvisation on the Harp. She is also the President of the St. Louis Gateway Chapter of the American Harp Society.