Margaret Betts

Affiliate Artist, Harp

Margaret (Shelton) Betts is a professional harpist in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. A native of Tacoma, Margaret’s passion and joy since the age of six has been playing the harp. A graduate of the University of Puget Sound summa cum laude in harp performance, Margaret has performed extensively with orchestral, choral, and chamber ensembles, including principal harpist of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra.

In 2011, Margaret was awarded the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a year-long independent research grant. In a journey of musical and personal discovery, Margaret followed the harp around the world, exploring the role it has played in both historical and contemporary cultures in fourteen different countries across four continents. Through interviewing harpists, attending harp festivals, visiting museums, taking lessons, performing, and even building her own harp, Margaret experienced the rich variety of this unique instrument around the globe. Margaret studied in Tacoma with Pat Wooster, Chairman of the Board for the World Harp Congress, and in Vienna with Anna Verkholantseva, Principal Harp for the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Margaret has taken master classes with Sarah Bullen, Isabelle Moretti, Sebastien and Sayo Lipman, Heidi Lehwalder, and Judy Loman.

In addition to performing, Margaret has also served as Chairman of Membership for the World Harp Congress and as treasurer for the American Harp Society Greater Seattle Chapter.