Quality instruction starts here.
When learning to play the harp it is best to work with an experienced teacher. Our staff of professional harpists are experienced performers and teachers and provide the highest quality of harp instruction. Contact us today to schedule lessons tailored to your needs. We will be thrilled to share the joy of playing the harp with you.
If you live outside of Northern Colorado we can also refer you to a teacher closer to your home.

Rachel Starr Ellins has been the instructor of harp at Colorado State University (CSU) since 1996. She is the first call substitute/second harpist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in Denver and principal harpist with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra. She was the principal harpist of the Boulder Philarmonic Orchestra from 1997 to 2005. Ms. Ellins received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado where she studied with Kathy Bundock Moore and her Master’s degree from the University of North Texas where she studied with Ellen Ritcher. Rachel studied for two summers at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Lucile Lawrence. She has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Timberline Symphony, the Greeley Chamber Orchestra and the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, and has been a guest artist with the Loveland Friends of Chamber Music. She has been teaching harpists of all ages for over 20 years. Rachel is the proud owner of The Harp Shoppe.

Kristi has been teaching both lever and pedal harp at The Harp Shoppe since 2003. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, a Master’s degree in Performance on clarinet from Colorado State University and was a member of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra for several years. She found harps fascinating and built a folk harp from a kit to teach herself to play. When she met Rachel she learned that a qualified teacher makes an enormous difference. She has played for weddings, memorial services, art galleries, dinners, and more. Kristi teaches students from elementary school children to adults in styles ranging from Celtic, classical, pop, country to blues. Some of her students have performed in contests, weddings and festivals while others simply play for their own enjoyment.

Alaina received her Bachelor’s degree in Harp Performance in 2009 from Colorado State University, and her Master’s degree in Music Performance from CSU in 2011. Her love for music began at an early age with the piano. She has been studying the harp for the past 13 years and is presently a student of Rachel Starr Ellins. Alaina has performed with the University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, the CSU Harp Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Collegium Musicum, and also the Fort Collins Wind Symphony and the Niwot Symphony Orchestra. She plays for weddings, receptions, solo concerts and as a choir accompanist. She has been teaching private harp lessons for the past 6 years to anyone dreaming of playing the harp.