The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami is pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Sherman has joined the faculty as a full-time lecturer in Harp and Music Theory, beginning August 2019.
In commenting on her appointment Dr. Sherman stated: “We live in an exciting time, with diverse opportunities to express our deepest creativity through music. I am passionate about preparing and inspiring my students for today’s musical climate and for helping them tap into their unique musical expressions. The Frost School of Music’s innovative and interdisciplinary approach is the perfect place for students to learn the necessary skills to thrive, as well as experience a fertile, supportive environment in which to grow.”
As a performer, Dr. Sherman has played with many top freelance orchestras (including the New York City Ballet, American Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony), with numerous Broadway shows (including fifteen years as the harpist at “Wicked”), and repeat visits at three summer festivals (Spoleto USA, Spoleto Italy, and Opera North in New Hampshire). She can be heard on numerous recordings, including diverse films and commercials, Barbra Streisand’s 2006 live recording and DVD, Meredith Monk’s 2016 recording, “On Behalf of Nature,” and on two GRAMMY award-winning Broadway cast recordings, “Wicked” and “Hamilton.” Dr. Sherman also toured nationally and internationally with Barbra Streisand and with three Broadway shows, as well as performed numerous solo and chamber music recitals in the New York City area.
As a writer and editor, Dr. Sherman’s articles have appeared in The American Harp Journal, the World Harp Congress Review, the Historical Harp Society Bulletin, the Harp Column magazine, and Musical America. She was the interim editor of The American Harp Journal for two issues in 2017-18.
A specialist in transcribing and performing J.S. Bach’s music on the harp, Dr. Sherman has given master-classes, lectures, and recitals at national and international harp conferences, as well as at colleges and music schools in the United States. She will be teaching her “Bach for Performers” graduate course, which is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists, beginning in the fall.
In 2012, Dr. Sherman founded Gotham Harp Publishing, a harp music publishing company specializing in historically informed transcriptions of early music and new works by contemporary composers.
Dr. Sherman has been featured in Allegro magazine (the publication for Local 802, New York City, American Federation of Musicians) in November 2015, and in the Harp Column’s July/August 2012 print issue, as well as their January 2016 podcast.
A graduate of Queens College/CUNY, the Yale School of Music, and the University of Michigan, Dr. Sherman holds four degrees, three in harp performance and one in music theory. She was the assistant professor of harp and music studies at Louisiana University from 1999-2000 and adjunct harp and music studies instructor at Hunter College/CUNY from 2000-2003. At the Frost School of Music, she will head the harp program, as well as teach classes in the theory department and her graduate course on Bach studies.
