Meet a Musician: Erin Wood
When I am not playing the harp, I am usually running my kids to lessons, soccer practice, dance class, or making their Halloween costumes!
What was the first piece of sheet music you bought?
I don’t remember the first piece of sheet music that I bought but I remember one of the first songs that I learned on the harp was Greensleeves. It was one of my mom’s favorite songs and I was excited to learn it as a way of saying thank you to her for driving me to lessons and supporting me.
If you had to choose another musical instrument to play, what would it be and why?
Frequently when I move the harp, someone asks, “Don’t you wish you had played the piccolo?” As easy as it is to transport, I do not wish that I had chosen to play the piccolo. I played cello for years and if I didn’t play the harp, cello would be my top choice. I still love it and it would be a lot easier to move.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment to be as a musician?
One of the accomplishments that I am most proud of is receiving a Performer’s Certificate for my senior recital at IU. The certificate is awarded as a special recognition of musical understanding and technical proficiency demonstrated in a recital and involves multiple performances before different committees. With all the work that one puts into a recital it was really nice to receive that special recognition. I also find it very rewarding to see my students progress and achieve their goals!
If you could put together a quartet of three other musicians, dead or alive, to play with, who would you choose and why?
I really can’t decide, there are so many amazing musicians that I would love to play with. But if I were to limit it to harpists I think I would choose my college teacher Susann McDonald, who has the most gorgeous sound of any harpist I have ever heard, Henriette Renie, my teacher’s teacher, an amazing harpist and composer who I have heard so many stories about, and Harpo Marx because wouldn’t that just be so fun (he also studied with Renie!).
What has been your favorite Lawrence Community Orchestra experience?
I really enjoyed the “Americana” concert because I love American composers and the guest vocalist, Timothy Noble was amazing!
