Dawn Harms

Dawn Harms leads an active musical life as a violinist, violist, chamber musician and conductor. For ten years, Dawn was first violinist with the Harrington String Quartet, winners of the Grand Prize at the prestigious Fischoff and Evian International chamber music competitions. She played first violin for five years with the Santa Fe Opera. A member of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, and the New Century Chamber Orchestra. Dawn holds the position of co-concertmaster with the Oakland Symphony, and concertmaster of the Santa Fe Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra. Dawn is the founder and conductor of the Elixir Chamber Orchestra, and founder and music director of Music at Kirkwood. Harms, a strong advocate for children’s music education, was conductor and music director of the Amarillo Youth Orchestra and continues to design and perform educational concerts throughout the western United States. Her solo recording The Black Swan, on the ATOL label features music for violin and harp. Her newly released CD, The Hot Canary, as well as The Black Swan, are available on CD Baby and amazon.com. Dawn also collaborated with her cousin Tom Waits on his recordings Alice and Blood Money. Ms. Harms currently serves on the music faculty at Stanford University. Dawn received her B.M. degree from the New England Conservatory of Music where she studied with Dorothy Delay and Josef Gingold.