Visiting Instructor of Music (Harp)
Ms. LeBlanc has been principal harpist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic since 1996. She has also played principal harp with the Tulsa Opera, Roswell (NM) Symphony, Lawton Philharmonic, and also currently principal harpist with the Fort Smith (AR) Symphony since 2003. LeBlanc is also adjunct harp faculty with Oklahoma City University, University of Central Oklahoma, and recently accepted a one year position on the faculty of the University of North Texas for the 2005-2006 academic year commuting 2 days a week. She has been harp faculty with the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute from 1999-2004, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and principal harpist with the OK Mozart Festival. A tireless and enthusiastic pedagogue, Ms. LeBlanc has been President or Vice-President of the Oklahoma City Harp Society for five years organizing student recital, guest artists or master classes. Her students have been national competition winners and members of Tanglewood Institute and Interlochen Fine Arts camp and Academy. Before making Oklahoma City her home, Ms. LeBlanc was principal harpist in several ensembles in the Dallas regional area: Richardson Symphony, Irving Symphony, Plano Chamber Orchestra, Abilene Philharmonic, Abilene Opera, Turtlecreek Chorale, Dallas Orpheus Chamber Singers, Shreveport (LA) Symphony and Pine Bluff (AR) Symphony. Ms. LeBlanc was also chosen as principal harpist for a six-week European tour with the North Carolina School of the Arts giving concerts in six countries. She has recorded with the Orpheus Chamber Singers and the Octavia Harp Ensemble. Ms. LeBlanc received her Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance at the at the University of North Texas where she started her harp studies at the age of 20 with Ellen Ritscher after years of piano, organ and flute training. She also received her Masters of Music in Harp Performance at Southern Methodist University under Susan Pejovich, principal harpist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. More extensive training consisted of two summers at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute under Lucile Lawrence and five summers at the Salzedo School with Alice Chalifoux, principal harpist with the Cleveland Orchestra for 40 years. BM—Harp Performance, University of North Texas |
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Gaye LeBlanc, a Texas native, has been building the OU harp department since 1997. Under her leadership, the addition of two new Lyon & Healy Concert Grand harps was purchased in 2003 and 2005 by generous donors. The harp program includes harp ensemble, harp orchestral literature and pedagogy.