Harpist Caroline Hales Has a Lot of Pluck

When you think about harp music, you think ethereal, soothing, relaxing. Well, there is nothing laid back about harp virtuoso Caroline Hales. She bubbles with enthusiasm and energy about her chosen art form.  

Before you and I are out of bed on any given Saturday, she’s probably played in two concerts and is traveling to a third. That may be an exaggeration, but there’s no doubt that this young woman is going places, lugging her heavy harp with her.

“Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to play the harp,” says Hales, 18. “I don’t recall seeing a harp and thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ I think I was just born wanting to play.”

After years of begging, at the tender age of 7, Caroline’s mother, Sharon Hales, bought her a harp and started looking for a teacher through the Sylvia Woods Harp Center. When she heard that JoAnn Turovsky, professor of harp at USC, had an opening, she was advised to scoop it up. Caroline has been taking lessons in Pasadena with Ms. Turovsky for 11 years now.

Hales enjoys the idea that the harp is unique. It is also versatile, she says, and requires no accompaniment. It has its own bass and high notes, even more than piano, so she can play almost any kind of music. She particularly likes to play jazz on the harp, as well as Ravel and Strauss. On the piano, which she’s also been playing since age 5, she prefers Chopin, Brahms and Gershwin. 

Because of her skill, she has plenty of harp-playing opportunities. Currently she plays in the American Youth Symphony at UCLA and the Claremont Young Musician’s Orchestra. She does the occasional concert at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, where she’s been a student since age 9 and is in the orchestra for s current production of My Fair Lady.

Her Honda Pilot is outfitted with a specially made pad in the back so she can load and unload her 6-foot, 80-pound harp without damaging it. “I’m so jealous of the flute-players in the orchestra,” says Hales with a laugh.  “They can just slip their instruments into their backpacks.”

On top of being a full time student at Crescenta Valley High School, where she is part of the Charismatics, a specialized choral group, she sings with the Los Angeles Children’s Choir and in her church choir.  

She even has a small business, hiring herself out to play harp at weddings and other events. When asked how she has time for school work, Hales says, “Truth be told, I don’t.”  But it doesn’t seem to worry her. 

She has already been accepted into the undergraduate music program at BYU (Brigham Young University).  After college, she plans to go on a religious mission and then hopes to get her masters at USC.  Caroline would then like to be part of a professional orchestra, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Her busy schedule allows little time to compete for music awards.  However, she recently entered the American Harp Society’s National Competition. She has attained one very prestigious award, though, the Girl Scouts of America Gold Award.  In keeping with her innate passion, Hales organized a concert with local musicians, including herself, for the children and parents of Mountain Avenue Elementary School. Proceeds from the event were used to buy much-needed instruments for the school’s music program.

“I like to stay busy,” says Hales. “Music keeps me busy.  It’s my escape.  The harp is a way for me to express myself without words.  I would say it feeds my soul.”