The Instructors

William Stapp - Violin/ViolaWilliam Stapp Violin Teacher

William Stapp received a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from the University of Alabama and a Master of Music (M.M.) from the University of Michigan where he attended on a full fellowship. Following this he received an A. S. (Stringed Instrument Technology Violinmaking) from Indiana University. He also attended the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School for several summers. His teachers include students of Ivan Galamian and William Primrose.

Mr. Stapp won the position of Assistant Principal Viola of the Maryland Symphony in 2003 and is member of the National Philharmonic at Strathmore Hall. He is a member of ‘Duo Liutaio’, a harp-violin collaboration with his wife harpist Astrid Walschot-Stapp. Mr. Stapp has performed at the Kennedy Center, in South America and Europe, and as part of the ‘Strings ‘n Things’ and Shepherd String Trios. He has coached the strings of the Academy of St. Cecilia Youth Orchestras, the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, and the Shepherd Orchestras. Mr. Stapp is often a judge for local solo and ensemble festivals. Mr. Stapp has served on the faculty of the Heritage Academy, the BlackRock Center for the Arts, Frederick Community College and Shepherd University.

 

Astrid Walschot-Stapp - HarpAstrid Walschot Stapp Harp Teacher

Born in Maastricht Holland, Astrid Walschot-Stapp began studying the harp at age nine. After studying at the Maastricht Conservatory on the advice of Phia Berghout, she received her Docerend Musicus (teaching degree) and later the Uitvoerend Musicus (soloist diploma) summa cum laude. Following her studies in Holland with Katja Noorman, Bess Franssen, and Theresia Rieu, Astrid received the VSB Bank Scholarship and the Prince Bernhard Fund prize. She was invited to study with Susan McDonald at Indiana University where she received her Performer Diploma. Mrs. Stapp grew up with the French style of playing (H. Renie, Grandjany) but does not limit her insight to one method.

Astrid has been active in popularizing pieces by contemporary composers. The pieces “Astre” for harp ( 1988) and “Sagitaure”for flute and harp (1989) by Jean Sevriens are published by Donemus in Amsterdam. Astrid is looking forward to the Harp Concerto "Tanghetto" by J. Sevriens which is being written for her. Currently she is recording a CD featuring selected works by composer Meg Robinson. As a chamber musician, Astrid has played numerous recitals in Europe and North America with such groups as the Orlando String Quartet, Kennedy Center Theater Chamber Players, The Left Bank Concert Society, Skya, and Duo Liutaio. In addition to radio and television performances, Astrid has been active as a soloist and as an orchestral musician. She has performed with such groups as the Limburg Symphony (The Netherlands), National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, National Gallery Orchestra, Washington Opera, Opera Royal de Wallonie and the Baltimore Opera. She was featured in the Baltimore Symphony’s Summerfest chamber music program and in their newly established ‘concertlab’at MICA. In March 2003 she was selected by Maestro Yuri Temirkanov to be the acting principal harpist of the Baltimore Symphony during his tenure. She is principal harpist of the National Philharmonic and the conductor of the Montgomery County Classic Youth Orchestra’s Harp Ensemble. Mrs. Walschot-Stapp was on the faculty of the Washington Conservatory from 1997 to 2004.


^ Top of Page