We caught up with San Antonio Chapter vice president Jamie Wilkinson, who championed the effort to bring new life to the San Antonio Chapter of the AHS. Learn more about her process on our website.
What inspired you to revitalize the San Antonio Chapter?
There were several harpists in San Antonio who have been wanting to meet again as a chapter, and it seems like everything finally came together in the Summer of 2024. I had met Margarita Farias in January 2024 randomly at a wedding fair, and we exchanged numbers. She had been involved with the San Antonio chapter forever, and was the Treasurer and was well-connected with previous members. She's truly amazing with the relationships she's kept up with. She has been a vital resource. A pianist friend of mine is friends with Sherri Stricker, and told me that I just had to meet her. She set up a meet-up for the 3 of us, and Sherri and I hit it off. Between the two of us and Margarita meeting a few times, Sherri really took the lead and said she was willing to be our President and we all rallied behind her. I told her I would love to support her as Vice-President, and Margarita said she could continue on as Treasurer and Laura Pradia volunteered to be Secretary. Our meeting of four became our chapter officers!
Can you talk a bit about your strategy for breathing new life into the community?
Right now we are just so excited to have an excuse to get together with each other and do fun harp things. We have only had two meetings, so we haven't made waves or anything like that. I think we are just excited to try to make our ideas a reality.
What resources have you found most helpful from the Harp Society or somewhere else?
At our first chapter meeting we brainstormed on what everyone present has found helpful, inspiring, and memorable from AHS chapters they have been involved in. We all had a lot of common positive experiences: guests performers, work shops, master classes, playing ensemble music together. We are using those ideas to help us plan our meetings and activities. The Harp Society is sponsoring our first guest performer through the
Emerging Artist Fund. That was vital as our chapter had very little money with which to get going. Seeing what other chapters are doing is very inspirational!
What exciting events do you have planned in the coming months?
In April we have Kathryn Horton coming to perform for our chapter. We are hoping to pull out harp ensemble music and perform a chapter Christmas concert this year.
Are you thinking about starting a new chapter, or revitalizing a chapter that has stopped meeting? Check out our Chapter Resources to get started!
Did you know that by virtue of their association with the national American Harp Society, active chapters are considered by the IRS to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits? A special “Group Exemption” extends AHS’s nonprofit status to all of its active chapters in good standing, saving them the work, expense, and time of filing to become a nonprofit on their own. Donations to chapters are tax-deductible, and chapters are qualified to apply for non-profit grants or sponsorships like any other nonprofit. Learn more on our Chapter Resources web page.
Last Modified: Apr 2nd, 2025
