About Us

Jessica Harrell, Flute | Shelley Newpher, Harp

Jessica and Shelley became neighbors in 2017. It didn’t take long for the two of them to realize their shared love of playing instruments. Lots of squeals ensued as the two neighbors began making plans to get together to play duets. Finding herself snowed in one day, Jessica packed up her flute and made the trek to Shelley’s house to play with her for the first time – after all, it seemed like it would be easier for her to carry the flute to Shelley’s than for Shelley to carry over her harp! And the rest, as they say, is history…

They began by rehearsing occasionally just for fun, sneaking in practice time during kids' naps, after work, and on weekends. They then transitioned into an official duo, increased their repertoire, and began performing for parties and providing porch recitals during the pandemic. It has become clear that playing flute and harp music together is something that they enjoy immensely. Inspired and motivated to perform, they are prepared for performance opportunities within the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill area!

Shelley Newpher, Harp

Shelley has played the harp for over 30 years, having trained at Brevard Music Center's summer institute and earning her Bachelor's degree in Harp Performance from Miami University of Ohio. After many years of work as a professional harpist throughout Ohio, Boston, Austin and the Triangle NC area, she returned to graduate school to complete a Master of Arts degree in Music Therapy at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She currently works as the music therapist at Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center and has private harp, piano, and ukulele students. The flute & harp duo rounds out her career as a lifelong musician!

Jessica Harrell, Flute

Jessica started playing the flute when she was nine years old and played as part of an award-winning marching band in high school. After college, she was a member of the New Orleans Concert Band, coming together with musicians of all ages and careers to play concerts for family and friends across the city. After moving to North Carolina, Jessica put her flute down for a few years while she focused on graduate school in Cell and Developmental Biology, playing just every once in a while. She was fascinated by the number of scientists that she met who play musical instruments. Fast forward a few years, and now with a career underway and her children in elementary school, there she was, meeting Shelley for the first time and realizing all of the exciting possibilities!