Faye Seeman

Harpist Faye Seeman is principal harpist with the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra and professor of harp studies at both Wheaton College and Northern Illinois University. Outside of teaching, Faye has distinguished herself as one of the most versatile harpists in the Chicago area, often venturing away from playing traditional classical music.  Her newest musical venture is the collaboration with steel pan virtuoso Liam Teague. Their group, the Pangelic Duo, is busy performing concerts in the Midwest featuring original compositions by both performers and arrangements from classical to jazz by the duo. The Pangelic Duo has commissioned composer Gustavo Leone to write a concerto grosso for harp, steel pan and orchestra, currently in progress. Their first performance is scheduled to premiere at the Birch Creek Music Festival in June 2020, followed by alternate versions for harp, steel pan and steel pan band. Most recently, Faye’s original harp solo, “Fayed to Blue”, was featured at the season opening concert of the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra. With Liam and his steel pan band from Northern Illinois University, Faye arranged this composition for harp, steel pan and orchestra.

As founder of the “Kithara” flute, cello and harp trio, Faye has led the group to notoriety through highly successful performances in recitals throughout the Midwest. One of her proudest accomplishments is the commission of a concerto for harp and orchestra in memory of her father, violinist and conductor, Ernest Seeman. Noted Chicago composer Gustavo Leone wrote the music which premiered in 2006 at the Birch Creek Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin. Since then the work has been played many times throughout the United States.  In the summer, Faye is on the faculty of the Birch Creek Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin, and the Midwest Harp Festival. As a soloist, she produced and recorded her first solo CD in 2010 at Bastyr University Chapel in Seattle, Washington. The disc features several of her own compositions, along with transcribed favorites.

Faye graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Music Performance degree and earned a Master of Music Performance degree from Boston University studying with the legendary harpist Lucile Lawrence.

Learn more at: www.fayeseeman.com