Laurie Rasmussen

Laurie Rasmussen has been a professional harpist and music educator for 34 years. Her wide range of experience in different genres makes her comfortable as a classical player or in folk and improvisational ensembles. She believes in empowering young harpists by equipping them to be similarly well-rounded and versatile.

While living abroad in 2000-2003 Laurie toured in Italy and Germany as a soloist and with a variety of ensembles while also teaching privately in Italy. Since 2014 she has been adjunct harp instructor at SBCC and she maintains a studio of private students of all ages.

Laurie has extensive ensemble performance experience in several genres. She has appeared in musical theatre in Santa Barbara with the Ensemble Theatre and Out of the Box Theatre Company, and with the Ojai Performing Arts Theatre. She has performed with Opera San Luis and Orchestra Novo in San Luis Obispo, as well as with the Santa Maria Philharmonic. She has been the harpist with the Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara since its inception in 2017. Additionally, she has been a freelance musician specializing in private events around the Central Coast for over three decades.