CHAPTER NEWS & RESOURCES
Amazing Opportunity through the AHS Chapter Ambassadors Program
Student members! Check out this great opportunity to receive funding support to attend the 2023 AHS Summer Institute and National Competition, held at Colbern School in Los Angles by becoming an AHS Chapter Ambassador.
AHS Summer Insitute June 1-4, 2023
"Creating our Legacy"
The Summer Institute, held in odd-numbered years, focuses on the student harpist with workshops, master classes, and concerts by the best performers and pedagogues in the world. The Summer Institute is held in conjunction with AHS National Competition, where dazzling young harpists compete for awards and scholarships.
Curious what it is like to attend a National AHS Event?
Hear what our Vice President Kathryn Harms has to say about her experiences attending a National AHS Event. "I attended my first American Harp Society Conference after my freshman year of college, and it was an inspiring and unforgettable experience! The schedule was packed with incredible performances, masterclasses, seminars, workshops, and more, and there was something for every harpist and harp-lover. I often found it difficult to choose which events to attend because I wanted to hear everything.
I ran into old friends, made many new ones, and went home with a very long list of music to learn and harpists to follow. I found it particularly special to simply be among so many harpists with both shared and diverse interests, and I have since attended AHS national events whenever I can."
What is a Chapter Ambassador and Why Should I Apply?
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A Chapter Ambassador is a local student chapter member nominated by the Mile High Chapter Board and approved by the National AHS. If nominated by the Mile High Chapter Board, the student will receive a grant of $400 from the Mile High Chapter; then if the application is approved by the AHS, the new Chapter Ambassador will receive a matching grant of up to $500*. The student will then be able to put this money toward registration costs, travel expenses, and attendance expenses at the June 2023 AHS Summer Institute and National Competition in Los Angles.
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Is There Anything Else I Should Know About Being a Chapter Ambassador?
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Yes! As a Chapter Ambassador, you will also design and execute a community engagement project under the mentorship and guidance of board members from the national AHS as well as the local Mile High Chapter. This project is an incredible opportunity to learn from other professional harpists and develop the skills to interact with your community and promote the harp. Additionally, Chapter Ambassadors will serve in various rolls as part of a support team for different concerts and events at the summer institute and also locally as well.
More information about the program can be found on the National AHS website: www.harpsociety.org/chapter-ambassador-program
*If any additional money (up to $100) is donated to or fundraised by the individual Chapter Ambassador, the National AHS will match those funds up to a total of $500.
Please Choose one of the following topics for your video essay.
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1. What skills do you hope to gain through attending the 2023 AHS National Event?
Talk about what you hope to experience by attending an array of workshops and concerts at the national event, and how you think they will benefit your engagement with the harp. (Visit www.harpsociety.org/summer-institute for more information about the event!)
2. Are you inspired to create a community engagement project involving the harp? Do you have ideas for sharing your love of music and the harp with your community? Tell us about your vision for engaging with your community.
3. Describe how you imagine using the knowledge you gain from attending the national event to benefit your AHS chapter members and shape chapter activities in the future.
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4. Some students have a background, identity, or interest that is so meaningful they believe it makes them the ideal candidate to be a Chapter Ambassador. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
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These videos will be submitted to both parts of the application process.
Who Can Apply?
Any student who meets the following criteria can apply. There are two parts to the application process. (see below)
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Any Harp Student Ages 12 - 21
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Must be a member of both our local Mile High Chapter and the National Chapter of the AHS
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Have participated in at least one Mile High Chapter event.
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First, the student must submit the following application materials to our local Mile High Chapter to be reviewed by the board. There will be a total of up to two nominees selected by the Mile High Chapter after a review process.
Second, if the student is selected to be a Mile High Chapter Ambassador, then they will summit their application to the National Board to be reviewed in order receive the matching funding grant.
Please send all application materials by November 11th to the Mile High Chapter Board by email at milehighahs@gmail.com. Use the email heading Chapter Ambassador Application. You can submit the letter of endorsement and parental permission statement as pdf files or print the form provided HERE to send back as a pdf file.
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1. Three to five minute video essay
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2. An endorsement from your harp teacher
3. A note of permission from your parent/guardian (if under 18)
If you have further questions please let us know by sending an email to milehighahs@gmail.com. (The National Chapter Submission Deadline has been extended)
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T-Shirt Design Contest
The Mile High Chapter will be releasing a special T-shirt as a fundraiser for the Chapter Ambassadors Program and we want your artwork! Submit your design idea to milehighahs@gmail.com by January 17, 2022.
Designs must follow the following parameters:
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Harp-related
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Representative of the CO harpist spirit
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Black and white only
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Maximum size: 8"x10"