On Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. the versatile, delicate sounds of harps will fill the Marsee Auditorium. Four of the leading harpists in the country are performing at EC.

Delaine Leonard Fedson, Leslie Stratton Norris, Ellie Choate and Jacquelyn Venter compose the American Harp Quartet.

The quartet plays a wide-range of compositions that demonstrate the versatility of the harp instrument.

“When we play our programs, we (have) a mixture of classical, and big band, and Latin,” Norris said. “Just a whole smattering of things.”

They have performed all over the country, such as Idaho, Montana, Washington, Long Beach and Texas.

The American Harp Quartet was formed about 18 months ago. Although the quartet is newly formed, their typical audience ranges from 500 to 1,000 people, Venter said.

As a group, they have not received awards for their performances. Individually, however, they have all received great recognitions for their work.

Choate has received multiple Grammy awards; Norris had many performances on television and she has collaborated with orchestras all over the country; Venter worked with Conspirare, a grammy-winning choir, and Fedson has taught both nationally and internationally at workshops and conferences, according to their websites.

They all expressed a great fondness and passion for playing the harp instrument.

“It’s so visual yet at the same time it’s very tactile. I love to sit down and play and feel how it feels,” Venter said. “And then feel the resonance of the instrument.”

They have also received positive responses from audience members thus far.

“People love the harp. It’s just relaxing to listen to. It’s pleasant. It’s not nerve jarring,” Norris said.

Choate, EC harp instructor, brought the quartet to campus.

“I am on the part-time applied music faculty,” Choate said. “I have been teaching fairly regularly for the last three years.”

Choate also works at the University of Irvine as a harp instructor.

The other harpists have occupations all over the country. Fedson is a harp instructor at the University of Texas, Norris works in Ohio with an orchestra, and Venter works full-time in the Sacramento area in community orchestras and as a private instructor.

“We all live across the country, so getting together and practicing (is a challenge). Our practice times are just really really intense,” Norris said.

Because of the distance, the American Harp Quartet meets only five or six times a year. Each meeting, the quartet performs three or four shows.

“We get together and do a whole week. And then don’t see each other for three months,” Norris said. “That’s difficult.”

Although the distance is a challenge, the American Harp Quartet enjoys performing together.

“It’s great to make wonderful music with wonderful people,” Venter said. “I feel like that really comes across when we play.”

The American Harper Quartet performs on Oct. 24 at Marsee Auditorium. Tickets are available at the Box Office.

Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.elcamino.edu/commadv/centerforarts/artists.html