Winifred Garrett

B.M., University of the North Carolina School of the Arts; M.M., Manhattan School of Music

Bio:

Principal harpist for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Winifred Garrett is Adjunct Harp Instructor at Methodist University, NC State University, Bennett College, and Guilford College. Harpist in Residence at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, N.C., Ms. Garrett teaches adult harp students through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke. Harp instructor for Grammy Award winner Justin Robinson of the NC Chocolate Drops, Ms. Garret has coached four students to first prize/first chair wins in local and regional competitions and auditions. As Founder/Artistic Director/Harp Instructor of “The Harp Studio,” she has worked to bring the harp to the children and greater community of the Triangle via private harp lessons, harp ensembles, summer harp camps, and concerts.

Performing her solo debut with the Winston-Symphony Piedmont Triad Symphony in 1994, Ms. Garrett has been a freelance orchestral musician with the North Carolina Symphony, Western Piedmont Orchestra, Long Bay Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, Greensboro Symphony, and Wilmington Symphony. Her choral credits include performances with the Boys Choir of Harlem, the Girls Choir of Harlem, the Hickory Choral Society, Bel Canto, and the Concert Singers of Cary. Highlights from her performances in New York include performances with Stevie Wonder at the Metropolitan Opera House, Marvin Gaye at Radio City Music Hall, and playing the Off Broadway and Japan tour of The Fantasticks.  Her film credits include the Spike Lee directed films Mo Better Blues and School Daze. Principal harpist for the Longleaf Opera, Ms. Garrett has also performed for the North Carolina Theater, Broadway South, Carolina Ballet, and the Dance Theater of Harlem.

Personal Interests:

I love interior design, Greek cuisine, the study of the universe, and spending time in museums with my family…and of course…ice cream.