H.I.P.P. Detroit
Harp Instruction and Performance Program
Lydia Cleaver was introduced to the harp at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan where she studied with Patricia Terry-Ross. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Master of Music and Specialist degrees in Harp Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music where she studied with Dr. Lynne Aspnes. Lydia has performed with many orchestras and choral ensembles throughout the Midwest region of the United States. Additionally, she has performed with Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Eartha Kitt and Mickey Rooney in the stage production of the Wizard of Oz, Mannheim Steamroller and others.
Lydia has been a featured soloist for Vocal Essence of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Livonia Symphony and Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony orchestras, as well as the American Harp Society, performing William Grant Still’s Ennanga. Lydia is listed in Marquis Who’s Who of American Women and has been granted the King, Chavez, Parks visiting professorship from the University of Michigan. In 2007 she took over the harp program at Cass Technical High School.
Instructors
Lydia Cleaver
Maurice Draughn
Maurice Draughn is an experienced and versatile musician. He appears frequently as a soloist with orchestras and previously in performance with legendary performers such as Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. He is a freelance harpist performing with several orchestras and ensembles throughout Southeastern Michigan and Western Ontario. He also performs regularly as a recitalist, chamber musician, studio harpist and as a member of the Modern Harp Quartet. As an arranger and composer of music for harp, Maurice has self-published several arrangements for harp in various settings. He is a featured contributor at harp.com and Harp Column Music.
Maurice began his harp studies at Cass Technical High School with Patricia Terry-Ross. He continued his studies earning a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from Wayne State University. Maurice completed two summers of study with world-renowned harpist Lucile Lawrence at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. He later earned a Master of Church Music with a focus in Harp and Organ Performance from Southern Seminary where he also studied harp with Elaine Cook and Laura Byrne at the University of Louisville. He is currently the Academic Advisor in the Department of Music at Wayne State University.