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Emily Waggoner

Photo of Emily Waggoner

Department of Instrumental Studies
Division of Music
School of Fine Arts and Communication

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Education

  • MMus, Music Performance - Harp, Converse University
  • BMus, Church Music, Bob Jones University

Courses

  • Chamber Harp Ensemble (Ens 124)
  • Entrepreneurial Musician Seminar (Mu 306)
  • Harp Literature Survey (Mu 403)
  • Introduction to Music Literature (Mu 101)

About

Emily Waggoner serves as Associate Chair of the Division of Music and directs the Crescendo to Career program. She earned a B.M. in Church Music with harp proficiency from Bob Jones University in 2001 and a M.M. in Harp Performance from Converse College in 2006. She began studying harp at age seven with Dorrine Yoder in Escondido, CA. Emily learned Salzedo and French methods of playing from Joyce Fankhauser, Anita Burroughs-Price, Carrol McLaughlin, and Gabriella Werries. Emily supports both methods of playing in her teaching studio.

Emily performs professionally in the Carolinas as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral harpist, and in studio recording. She serves as Principal Harpist with the Spartanburg Philharmonic, Acting Principal Harpist with the Ashevillle Symphony Orchestra, and frequently as a guest harpist for Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Greenville Chorale, Asheville Symphony Chorus, USC Columbia Symphonic Wind Band and others. In addition to teaching at BJU, she has been on adjunct faculty at South Carolina Governor's School for the Fine Arts and Humanities and Converse College and also maintains a private studio. She serves the local harp community as President of the SC Chapter of the American Harp Society, which she founded in 2008.

Emily began the harp program at BJU in 2006, desiring to offer higher education to harpists seeking a Christian liberal arts education. As Director of Harp Studies, she currently teaches Introduction to Music Literature, Entrepreneurial Musician Seminar and Practicum, private harp lessons, harp pedagogy and literature courses, directs the Chamber Harp Ensemble, and maintains all University-owned harps. Emily desires to equip harpists to their God-given calling, whether in secular fields or as freelance professionals.

Emily serves as a Children’s Ministry teacher and in her church orchestra at Hampton Park Baptist Church, where she and her husband have been members for 20 years. She volunteers weekly at a local ministry counseling families in crisis pregnancy situations. She and her husband have five  children.