Emily Sanzaro Harp Workshop Balwyn Victoria June 28th 2025

FORGING YOUR OWN WAY IN MUSIC – FINDING THE FREEDOM 

A GLIMPSE INTO ELECTRONICS & LOOPING FOR EVERYONE 

Bring your harp, seat, tuner and an open mind – lever harps, pedal harps, any size or sort! 

All levels from beginner to advanced are welcomed and encouraged. 

Please bring your own notepad and pen if you’re keen to take notes.

THERE ARE LIMITED TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT SO BOOK EARLY

Workshop will be in two parts:

An exploration about why we make and share music.

• As an Occupational Therapist, Emily is deeply interested in the role that music plays in our lives. Looking beyond just playing the notes, she is breaking down ways to find the joy in making and sharing music.

• Tackling the question of what makes a ‘perfect performance’, balancing technical proficiency, the risk of ‘getting it wrong’ and the vulnerability of sharing with the potential payoff.

• She will share her story of finding the freedom to explore her own direction with the harp, beyond the traditional pathway – taking the risk to learn something new and doing it her own way.
• Together we will discuss and explore ways to experiment with sound with some fun extended techniques.

A glimpse into electronics and looping.

• A brief run-down of what looping is including basic setup, benefits and pitfalls.
• We will learn one of Emily’s original pieces together as an ensemble (Sheet music will be provided. No preparation necessary and it’s ok if you don’t read music).  She will then demonstrate how to turn the same thing into a solo work using a loop station – hopefully a bit of fun whether you’re into technology or not!
• There will be opportunity to ask questions and explore the technology for those who are interested.

EMILY SANZARO is an innovative contemporary harpist, vocalist, violinist & electronic loop artist based in Launceston, Tasmania.

Emily enjoys playing a wide range of musical genres on the harp, harnessing the versatility of the instrument and relishes any opportunity to depart from the type of music audiences expect to hear from a harp though she also loves to weave in a sprinkle of the traditional. Emily specialises in creating original compositions, contemporary arrangements with a twist, and experimental improvisations. Emily really doesn’t sit comfortably in a single genre, rather embracing variety and a broad scope from jazz, celtic traditional, classical and contemporary. One is encouraged to bring an open mind to Emily’s performance and leave expectations at the door. 

Emily is a versatile performer, with experience in numerous solo and collaborative performance contexts within Tasmania and beyond. Emily has completed 3 solo residencies at MONA (Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art; the largest private museum in the Southern Hemisphere), has performed by invitation at TedX Hobart and released her debut album of original music in 2021 to 5 sold out shows at MONA FOMA festival in 2022. Emily presented her unique interpretations of Radiohead songs in her solo show ‘Radiohead Retrospective’ to a sold out crowd for Junction Arts Festival in 2024. Emily is a regular collaborator with Tasdance and has been a member of MONA’s core ‘music cluster’ ensemble since 2020. Emily is excited to embark on her first national tour in 2025.

Emily is also a visual artist and registered Occupational Therapist in her spare time.

“You are simply wonderful, thank you for your magic” Kate Ceberano

"Emily has single-handedly created a uniquely Tasmanian musical world using an old-world instrument; the harp. Her music communicates easily with an extremely wide range of people” Brian Ritchie; Bassist Violent Femmes

This concert is sponsored by CARTER HARPS AUSTRALIA: www.carterharpsaustralia.com.au

More information about Emily Sanzaro is available at: emilysanzaro.com

Photo Credit of Emily: www.melaniekate.com.au

This project was assisted through Arts Tasmania