JPG Harp Confab 2026 with Robbin Gordon-Cartier!

July 8 - 11, 2026 - Chattanooga, Tennessee

PLAY! LEARN! HAVE FUN!

Get ready for three unforgettable days where your creativity blossoms, your confidence grows, and your joy of the harp truly takes flight. Imagine being surrounded by fellow harpists, world-class instruction, and an atmosphere filled with music, laughter, and inspiration—from the first note of the morning to the last evening session.

Spend your days playing, learning, experimenting, and connecting as your harp world expands with every note you play.

The best part? The full three-day instructional experience is just $345 and includes a workbook, snacks, and lunch.

Space is limited, and excitement is building—save your seat now and come make music with us!

FUN BONUS - Easy Strings Meetup |  5:00–6:30 p.m.
On Wednesday night, we will kick off the JPG Harp Confab with a relaxed evening of connection and camaraderie. Meet your hosts and instructor Robbin Gordon-Cartier, enjoy a short performance by Robbin, mingle with fellow attendees, and get a preview of the days ahead. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.

How do you get started? Click on the STORE page and then click on HARP CONFAB to complete the form and pay with your credit card.

Meet your creative coach Robbin Gordon-Cartier

 

Robbin Gordon-Cartier brings her joy of the harp to Chattanooga, Tennessee.   Joyful, centered, and a consummate musician are words that describe the presence and playing of Robbin Gordon-Cartier. Dedicated early to the study of the harp, Gordon-Cartier spent long summers as a young harpist in Ireland studying at the Royal Irish Academy. Since then, she has appeared nationally and internationally everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the National Symphony of Santo Domingo, at events honoring Lord Guinness, Cicely Tyson, and Sir James Galway. She plays frequently at churches and gospel events. Robbin teaches an extensive and very successful harp program in the East Orange School District’s Cicely Tyson’s School of the Performing Arts where she works to bring the harp to the attention of a wide variety of young people, busting stereotypes. She has joined the faculty of Kean University in Union, NJ, as Concert Artist/Adjunct Harp Faculty. Robbin has a CD out, Just As I Am. Check out Maureen’s interview with Robbin on The HarpSong® Podcast. Presenter Website: Robbin Gordon-Cartier

JPG Harp Confab Schedule

Dates – July 8-11, 2026

Wednesday - CHECK-IN from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.                                                                      Easy Strings Meetup: Meet & Mingle from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

  • Because all harpists register online, all you have to do is give your name, and you will be given your JPG Harp Confab Workbook. Next, you will place the column of your harp on one of the colored circles on the floor, and place your harp bag in the storage area. Bring your bench and music stand. Chairs are available if you need them. BONUS: No moving your harp from one classroom to another for instruction. Set up your harp on time and leave it for the duration of the Confab!

  • Easy Strings Meetup: Meet & Mingle from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.   Kick off the three-day JPG Harp Confab with an evening designed for connection and camaraderie. This casual gathering offers a chance to meet your hosts, learn about the Confab, connect with our instructor, Robbin Gordon-Cartier, hear her play a couple of pieces, and connect with fellow attendees. Exchange ideas, build community, and get a preview of what’s in store before the Confab begins. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.

Thursday – 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Daily Breaks and Lunch are provided each day.

JPG Harp Confab Capacity:

Number of teachers –  1
Number of students – 50 max

Location: JPG Harp Confab is held in scenic Chattanooga, TN, with easy access from CHA airport and BNA and ATL airports by shuttle van. It is also accessible by I75 and I24. The address for our 2026 camp is:

The Vine Building of First-Centenary UMC (formerly the Oak Street Center)

433 Oak Street

Chattanooga, TN 37403

Fee

The fee for the 2026 JPG Harp Confab is $345, which includes:

  • Instruction by Robbin Gordon-Cartier

  • Workbook

  • Lunch and snacks daily

  • Wednesday, heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages during the Easy Strings Meetup: Meet & Mingle


    Cancellation Policy: Registration is refundable, except for the small percentage that Squarespace keeps, until May 1, 2026. By May 1, supplies are purchased, printed, etc. Even then, we will do our best to work with you if the reason for cancellation is illness or a death in your family.

What to bring:

Bring your harp, music stand, and bench. Chairs are provided, if needed. Dress is comfortable. We recommend you bring a sweater in case the room is too cool for you. We strive to strike a happy medium, but people have different temperature needs.

Lodging:

Chattanooga is a tourist city, and there are many hotels in the downtown area close to where we will hold the confab. To get the best price, sites such as priceline.com or airbnb.com can offer discounts and many options. 

For 2026, we are excited to partner with the University of Tennessee Chattanooga to offer housing in one of their single room, apartment-style dorms for $55 per night, per person.  The UTC campus is located in downtown Chattanooga, next door to where the JPG Harp Confab is taking place.

For more information, CLICK HERE. 

Here’s What You Will Learn

As you PLAY you LEARN – and here are some of the things you’ll learn

2026 JPG Harp Confab Classes - Robbin Gordon - Cartier, Instructor

Let’s Get Started - This class gives you all the tools and motivation you will need to play the harp. This class will cover how to find a teacher, developing a practice routine, picking appropriate music, reviewing basic technique, and finding time to play the harp, even when your life is busy.

All That Jazz - Have you wanted to add a new dimension to your repertoire but don’t know where to start? Let’s explore jazz repertoire for many levels and gain the tools to approach this style of playing

Weddings: From Soup to Nuts - Say YES to the wedding gig! Performing for weddings can range from just a solo fifteen-minute prelude to the entire ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. What are the do’s and don'ts, how to select the music, and how do you know when you are ready to say yes to these jobs.

Practice Makes You - We will explore techniques and ideas for not just getting the most out of your practice time but finding yourself in the music you practice. Get the most out of your practice by focusing on the strengths that are yours to develop.

Spiritual Music: Make a Joyful Noise - Learn what music fits where, how to identify the musical styles of different denominations, and the various ways they are performed. Discover how to bring your music to life in any spiritual environment! Explore the diverse musical styles used in religious traditions, from traditional hymns to contemporary gospel, and understand the differences between sacred music in synagogues, churches, and other houses of worship.

Nerves of Steel: Overcoming Performance Anxiety - Does performing in public or even the idea of it send you into a tailspin of nerves? Has the pandemic gotten you out of practice? How will you work around the changes that come with age and illness? Let Robbin show you how to develop a routine that allows you to look forward to performing and sharing your gifts with others.

Click Here to Register

for the 2026 JPG Harp Confab