John Alan Wickey began his musical life in an unexpected place — the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus. Encouraged by management to study piano with Albert Fillmore with an eye toward conducting, he might have taken a very different path. Then he heard the Cass Technical High School Harp & Vocal Ensemble perform at a local concert, and everything changed.
Captivated by the instrument, John pursued harp studies at Cass Tech and earned a full tuition Dean’s Scholarship to Boston University, where he worked with Lucile Lawrence — one of the preeminent harp pedagogues of the twentieth century and co-author of the Salzedo Method Book. He went on to earn a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan, studying with Lynne Aspnes.
John has served as Principal Harpist of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra since 2016 and holds the same position with the South Carolina Philharmonic. He is on the harp faculty at Converse University, Anderson University, and Furman University, and maintains a private teaching studio welcoming students at all levels.
He performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the Southeast, bringing the singular voice of the harp to concert halls, universities, and special events.
Education
- M.M., University of Michigan
- B.M., Boston University
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