Alison Austin, Artistic Director

Alison has been living and teaching in the Seattle area for the past twenty-five years. She studied locally with Lynne Wainwright Palmer, with Lucille Lawrence at the Tanglewood Music Center and went on to study with Marilyn Costello at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she received an Artist’s Diploma. Ms. Austin performed regularly with the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera from 1980 to 2002 and continues to perform throughout the NW. She was acting principal harpist of Seattle Opera from 1998 to 2002. In her orchestral and opera experience, Ms. Austin has performed under the batons of such conductors as Riccardo Muti and Paul Paray. In her early career Ms. Austin was a winner of the Trenton, NJ harp competition, the Seattle Ladies Music Club and was selected as a Young Artist for the American Harp Society. Her harp duo Les Harpes performed the opening recital at the National AHS Conference in 1979 and toured throughout the Northeast. She has extensive experience in orchestral, opera, ballet, chamber, choral, duo harp, and has a special love for harp ensemble and teaching.

Lynn Andersen, Webmaster of International Artists Foundation is a solo handbell player and member of the AHS Greater Seattle Chapter.    Along with Mark Andersen, he produces a weekly television show in Seattle, Crescendo!,  showcasing classical, baroque, Broadway and popular music with Pipe Organs, Harps, Strings, Handbells, Voice and Piano – mainly from Daniels Recital Hall in downtown Seattle.  Pacific Harp Institute has been featured many times on Crescendo!