Biography
Jessica Frost is a professional harpist residing in Stephens City, Virginia. In 2009, she received her Master of Music in Harp Pedagogy major at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia and her Bachelor of Music cum laude in Harp Performance in 2006. She is a 2002 honor graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia and the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia.
Jessica Frost won her first semi-professional orchestral placement in 2005 and now serves as principal harpist for the McLean Orchestra in McLean, Virginia under the direction of Sylvia Alimena. At Shenandoah University, Ms. Frost performed as principal harp with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Winds, Sinfonia, and the Shenandoah Conservatory Harp Ensemble. In 2004, the Shenandoah Conservatory Harp Ensemble performed in the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center in D.C. Ms. Frost has also performed in the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center.
Ms. Frost has performed extensively in her hometown throughout the Tidewater area. As a high school student, she was the principal harpist in the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra for four years. She was the principal harpist in the Princess Anne High School Chamber Orchestra for three years where she served as president her senior year. For three years, she was the principal harpist in the Governor’s School for the Arts Symphony Orchestra, Baroque Orchestra, and the Opera Orchestra. Jessica Frost was the principal harpist in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association All-Regional Orchestra and All-State Orchestra for three years. She has performed with several Virginia Beach high school orchestras, bands, and choirs. She continues to serve as the principal harpist with the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Norfolk Tidewater Winds. She also receives referrals from CMT Event Planning and provides her services to many of their clients. In 2008 Jessica recorded a track on Madeline MacNeil's Christmas CD, Heavens and Angels Sing.
In 2006, Jessica Frost won the Shenandoah University Concerto Competition and performed the Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf Concerto for Harp and Orchestra with the Symphony Orchestra. She has soloed with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (G.F. Handel Concerto for Harp and Orchestra), Governor’s School for the Arts (W.A. Mozart Concerto for Harp and Flute), Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra (D. Ott The Angel’s Harp), Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra (F. Boieldieu Concerto for Harp and Orchestra), and the Princess Anne High School Chamber Orchestra (A. Vivaldi Concerto for Harp). In 2001, she traveled to Austria and Germany and soloed with the Governor’s School Orchestra da Camera. She has placed in the Trinity Music Festival, Bland Competitions, the Bay Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, the Richmond Concerto Competition, and was the principal harpist at the Shenandoah Performing Arts summer camp. In 2008 and 2009, Ms. Frost was the director of the Shenandoah Performing Arts Camp, taught the harpists, and also led the camp's Harp Ensemble. She is currently music director, pianist, and choir director for Middletown Presbyterian Church in Middletown, VA.
Jessica Frost began her musical studies on the piano at the age of 5. She studied piano with Patsy Pitts of Virginia Beach, VA and she now studies privately with Dr. Sue Boyd of Winchester, VA. In 1994, Ms. Frost began harp lessons with Hye-Yun Chung Bennett of Chesapeake, Virginia. After nine years of study with Mrs. Bennett, she began studies with Elizabeth Blakeslee, of Falls Church, Virginia. Ms. Frost studied with Elizabeth Blakeslee at Shenandoah University until Mrs. Blakeslee's retirement in 2008. She finished her Master's degree studying with Bridgett Stuckey. She has performed in masterclasses with NSO principal harpist, Dotian Levalier, and Maryland freelancer, Astrid Walschot-Stapp. Jessica Frost maintains harp and piano studios in Harrisonburg and Winchester.
Resume
Education
-Master of Music, magna cum laude, May 2009
Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA
Major: Harp Pedagogy
-Bachelor of Music, cum laude, May 2006
Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA
Major: Harp Performance
-Advanced Studies Diploma, June 2002
Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach, VA
Governor’s School for the Arts, Norfolk, VA
Harp and Piano Instruction
Harp
-Bridgett Stuckey, 2008-present
-Elizabeth Blakeslee, 2002-2008
-Hye-Yun Chung Bennett, 1995-2002
Piano
-Dr. Sue Boyd, 2003-present
-Patsy Pitts, 1989-2002
Related Work Experience
-Director, 2009-present
Shenandoah Performing Arts Camp, Winchester, VA
-Co-director, 2008
Shenandoah Performing Arts Camp. Winchester, VA
-Harp Instructor, 2008-present
Shenandoah Performing Arts Camp, Winchester, VA
-Private teacher, 2006-present
Winchester, VA and Harrisonburg, VA
-Graduate supervisor, 2006-2007
Stage Crew, Winchester, VA
-Orchestra manager, harpist, auxiliary percussionist, 2006
Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Winchester, VA
-Principal harpist, 2005-present
McLean Orchestra, McLean, VA
-Principal harpist, 2003-2006
Tidewater Winds, Hampton Roads, VA
-Stage Crew, 2005-2006
Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA
-Principal harpist, 2002-2009
Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Harp Ensemble, Sinfonia,
Pit Orchestra, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA
-Auxiliary percussionist, pianist, music librarian, 2004-2006
Wind Ensemble, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA
-Private Teacher, 2001-2002
Virginia Beach, VA
-Principal harpist, auxiliary percussionist, music librarian, 2000-2007
Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Beach, VA
-Principal harpist, auxiliary percussionist, 2000-2002
Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra da Camera, Opera Orchestra,
Flute and Harp Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Governor's
School for the Arts, Norfolk, VA
-Principal harpist, 1999-2002
VBODA All-State Orchestra and Symphonic Band, VA
-Principal harpist, 1999-2002
VBODA Senior Regional Orchestra, Hampton Roads, VA
-Principal harpist, pianist, percussionist, music librarian, 1999-2002
Princess Anne H.S. Chamber and Concert Orchestras, Virginia
Beach, VA
-Principal harpist and pianist, auxiliary percussionist, 1998-2002
Bay Youth Symphony and Concert Orchestras, Norfolk, VA
-Free-lance and solo harpist, 1997-present
-Performances with U.S. Continental Army Band, Bel Cantanti,
Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra,
Loudoun Choral Society, Page County Choral Society
-Solo performances with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra,
Shenandoah University Symphony Orchestra, Shenandoah
University Dance Ensemble and Cantus Choir, Virginia Beach
Symphony Orchestra, Governor’s School for the Arts ensembles,
Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, Princess Anne High School
Orchestra, VMEA 2003 Conference
Equipment
© 2008 Jessica Frost. All rights reserved.
