Rebecca Todaro

Harp Faculty

A professional harpist living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rebecca began her harp studies at the age of 9 with Elizabeth Roth in Charlotte, N.C. A high school diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts in 1987 was followed by a scholarship for harp study at Louisiana State University. Earning both a bachelor and master of music degrees at LSU gave her a chance to study with Hye Yun Chung and Ann Benjamin. Throughout high school and college, summer study in N.C. at Brevard Music Center and Eastern Music Festival gave Rebecca guidance from the rich musical training at those programs. Post graduate study and master classes with Susann McDonald, Isabelle Moretti, Marcella DeCray and Kathleen Bride further enriched Rebecca’s musical influences. Rebecca was a practice supervisor at Interlochen Arts Camp in 1990, graduate assistant at LSU, professional in residence at LSU 2004-2006, has adjudicated many harp events, established a harp curriculum at the Runnels School, director of the Baton Rouge Harp Festival, artist in residence at Knock Knock Children’s Museum 2018 and 2019, and director of the Baton Rouge Harp Festival. A frequent guest musician on opera and orchestral programs throughout the south, Rebecca Todaro has served as principal harpist in Baton Rouge, Acadiana, Monroe, Shreveport, JPAS, Mississippi, Meridian, Mobile, and Pensacola. Having maintained a private teaching studio since 1989, sharing a love of the harp and its music with students of all ages has been a priority throughout Rebecca’s career. Rebecca Todaro has taught on the music faculty at Louisiana State University, University of Western Florida, and the Runnels School. A steady connection to the American Harp Society which began with her first membership in the late 1970’s was strengthened by participating in the national competition, in 1990, 1993 and finally earning 3rd place in the 1996 Young Professional division. Rebecca assisted with the 1998 AHS conference in Baton Rouge, performing the world premiere of a work on the Southern composers showcase, Music for Harp and Computer, by Stephen Beck. Recent presentations with the AHS include a lecture on building harp programs for school age children at the 2014 AHS conference in New Orleans, and serving as President of the Bayou Chapter of the AHS since 2018. One of three American competitors in the 1995 USA International Harp Competition, Rebecca served on its Board of Directors 2011-2014 . She has been a member of the Louisiana State Artists Roster, and a recipient of the Louisiana Division of the Arts mini-grant. Performing in thirty south Louisiana schools in one semester, Rebecca has been on the Young Audiences roster in New Orleans. Serving as Treasurer of the American Harp Society 2014-2016, she has served as a director at large for six years, and on its executive committee for two. In 2014, Rebecca Todaro and Catherine Anderson formed Quintessential Harp, a professional harp duo. Both bring a love of chamber music, a respect for developing the harp’s modern literature, a desire to revisit gems of forgotten repertoire, and above all, a mission to share the beauty of the harp with new audiences. The duo has performed at Tulane University, on the Musaica Chamber Music series in New Orleans, the Trinity Artist Series, the Baton Rouge General series; regional churches, nursing homes, and private concerts. Each program showcases the musicians equally, giving the harpists a conversation that continues through repertoire from the ages. Quintessential Harp also gives master classes to young harp students, and presents workshops for students on reading from scores and using extended techniques on the harp. A performance residency in Mobile, Alabama as guests of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Harp Society is planned for November, 2020.