CATHRYN CLAYTON

Cathryn Clayton obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts in Harp Performance from the University of Arizona. She holds a Master of Arts in Musicology and Bachelor's degrees in Music and Biology from the University of Utah. She also obtained her Registered Respiratory Therapy and Medical Laboratory Science degrees from Weber State University. During her years of graduate study, Dr. Clayton researched Welsh harp music and obtained a Doctoral Minor in Ethnomusicology. She currently teaches Harp Performance, Harp Pedagogy and Literature, World Music, Survey of Jazz, Music Theory, and Introduction to Music History at the University of Utah. Dr. Clayton presented a paper on her research and Master's thesis, "The Composer John Parry and His Collection of Welsh English, & Scottish Airs (1761)" at the Society for Ethnomusicology Regional Conference. Her research on Welsh harpists continued with her doctoral dissertation, "The Importance of Harpist John Thomas as a Welsh Nationalistic Composer and his Impact on the Development of Virtuosic Harp Repertoire." Dr. Clayton served as the President of the Society for Ethnomusicology, Southwest Chapter in 2017. She has presented numerous papers and performed for the Malad Valley Welsh Festival in Malad, Idaho on several occasions. Dr. Clayton has studied with harpists throughout the United States including Dr. Carrol McLaughlin (The University of Arizona), Alice Chalifoux (The Salzedo School), and Eileen Malone (Eastman School of Music). She co-founded the Arizona Harp Experience Youth Summer Camp with Dr. Carrol McLaughlin. She has taught private students for over twenty five years. Her students have competed in regional and national competitions and attended prominent schools through the U.S. including the Manhattan School of Music and Eastman School of Music. Dr. Clayton has toured throughout Europe performing with HarpFusion. She has arranged and recorded several works for harp ensemble, some of which can be heard on HarpFusion recordings. Dr. Clayton is currently the director of Crimson Harps, the University of Utah Harp Ensemble. The ensemble recently completed very successful tours of Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California. Dr. Clayton has also recorded solo works on the CD Fragile Tears. She has performed extensively for the Utah Governor's Mansion, the United States Olympic Committee, and currently performs throughout Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and California.