Person of Interest: How a Childhood Dream Led Wendy Smith to Harp Mastery

What drew you to learning to play the harp originally? Did you play any other instruments?

I was 13 years old, and I had a dream about playing a beautiful gold harp in a white dress. And so I started asking my father for harp lessons, which was totally out of the blue. I was taking piano lessons, and I made a D in clarinet. And I was told I had no musical ability by my San Clemente elementary school music teacher, which is really funny because I ended up spending a decade at Disney Entertainment, playing the harp there.

What type of event do you like performing for best?

I love playing for weddings. I’m a romantic at heart, and I just love seeing a couple come together and make that lifelong commitment to each other.

Do you have advice for anyone wanting to learn the harp?

I tell my harp students that I will teach them for the first three months, and then we’ll see how it goes. Because they need to find a harp teacher where you both work together to encourage the growth and harp musicality of the student. I just feel it’s very important for the harp student and the harp teacher to both feel a camaraderie before moving forward.

What do you like most about being a harpist?

I have a passion for the harp itself. I just think it’s a multifaceted instrument. And I’ve also performed at hospice (facilities), and it is very meaningful helping people—whether they be getting married or transitioning to heaven—encouraging them through the lovely sounds and vibrations of the harp