By Ann Cipperly
As a nationally award-winning harpist, Margaret Anne Gunter is pursuing her childhood dream as a military musician to combine her passion for service to others and excellence in her craft. As she continues her education and experiences in orchestra, band and jazz music, Margaret Anne is sharing her love of performing for others.
Margaret Anne grew up around music through her older siblings’ piano lessons and band memberships. Her parents could tell Margaret Anne really enjoyed music. When she was 7 years old, her father taught her some piano before she began taking lessons from Donna Kemp a year later. “My dad credits himself as my first piano teacher,” she says.
“My dad’s mother, Anne Gunter, was an amazing pianist that I didn’t get to know since she passed away when I was a baby. I am named after her and also my other grandmother who was named ‘Margaret Ann.’”
As Margaret Anne took lessons from Mrs. Kemp, she noticed Mrs. Kemp’s harp sitting in the other room. “While I was taking piano lessons,” she says, “I would look over and see it and thought it looked really beautiful. That is when I decided I wanted to learn how to play the harp.”
When her parents, Julia and Dr. Michael Gunter, talked to her about taking harp lessons for a few years, they realized it was not just a phase. At 11 years old, her parents agreed, and she began the lessons. “Mrs. Kemp instilled in me a love of playing the harp,” she says.
After taking lessons for a few months, Margaret Anne performed for the groundbreaking ceremony for Trinity Presyeterian Church, as it was being rebuilt after being destroyed by a fire. It was the first time she played the harp in public and since then has played many times for her church family.
Margaret Anne began playing with Mrs. Kemp in her group called the Harpeggios. When her friend, Vera Smith T, began playing the harp, the three of them played together. “Mrs. Kemp provided opportunities to play for others,” Margaret Anne says, “and that gave me a love of sharing music and performing for others.”
When she was 16 years old, she took lessons for the next two years from Judy Sullivan Hicks in Birmingham. She feels it prepared her for college auditions. The teacher has been a mentor and supporter.
Margaret Anne began attending the University of North Texas (UNT) in the fall of 2021. Since then, she has had many opportunities to perform. She was one of the winners of the UNT concerto competition in her sophomore year. “As a soloist with the orchestra,” she adds, “it was a wonderful experience and not something I ever imagined being able to do.
“My goal since high school is to win a job in one of the U.S. military bands. I did not know this when I began at UNT, but they have one of the best wind conductors of this generation, Eugene Corporon. He has been my conductor for the past two years with the UNT Wind Symphony, which has been a wonderful experience.
“One cool thing about playing band music is that a lot of it is newer than orchestra music,” she adds. “I have had a chance to meet some of the composers of the music I have played.”
Margaret Anne has also had the opportunity to experience editing harp music and adding harp parts to music. The conductor has been supportive of harp music and includes it as much as possible. To show their appreciation, the harp students have named a harp “Eugene.”
The conductor has a professional band in Dallas, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, that Margaret Anne has played in this past year. She performed the harp in three concerts, as well as having her first professional ensemble performance.
Along with the orchestra, Margaret Anne is enjoying the jazz program at UNT, which was the first school in the country to offer a jazz studies degree. She has taken jazz voice lessons for three semesters and participated in one of the jazz ensembles. She enjoys singing too and finds it is a musical outlet with less pressure.
“I love playing the harp,” she says, “but there is pressure involved in it since I am pursuing a career. Singing jazz voice has provided a musical outlet where I can just have fun.”
She has also had the opportunity to play harp in some jazz-related ensembles. She played the harp in the jazz string lab. She was the first UNT harpist to play in that ensemble dedicated to jazz strings.
Her first national harp competition was in 2023 in Los Angeles, Calif., as one of the finalists for the American Harp Society National Competition. She won first place in the advanced division for ages 21 and under. “It was a gift from the Lord and has opened up many other opportunities,” she says. “I made connections and friends that I will know for the rest of my career.”
After all the experiences in music, Margaret Anne still has a goal to be in a miliary band. “A career in the military appeals to me for several reasons,” she says. “Military musicians offer their services to the public for free, which is different than other orchestra jobs. It would combine my passion for serving others and finding excellence in my craft. The idea to continue pursing excellence while serving others is appealing to me.”
Since she has been in school, Margaret Anne has met many military harpists and musicians. “Every time I meet them and talk with them to ask questions, the Lord confirms that I am still interested in this job.
“There are only five or six harpists in the military bands. I may never have the opportunity to audition for one of these jobs, and that is alright. I am fully prepared for whatever the Lord has in store for me. I know His plan is better than my plan for myself.”
A member of her church, John Troxel, who played in the Marine Corp band for 30 years, has served as a mentor and encourager.
Along with her music experiences, Margaret Anne serves as one of eight ambassadors for the UNT college of music, giving tours, traveling with the admissions team and representing UNT at recruiting events. She enjoys being involved in activities not related to music performance, as it is easy for her to share experiences.
Margaret Anne spent this past summer at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina. She attended a seven-week long orchestra institute as she experienced playing in an orchestra.
As one of five harpists, she took classes from numerous teachers. “It was a combination of both being relaxing as well as being able to grow in my harp performance.”
This fall, Margaret Anne will begin her senior year at UNT. “Being there has helped me grow as a musician,” she says. “I could not have picked anywhere better for myself or my music.”
While her senior year is going to be busy, she is planning music to use in graduate school auditions. She has not decided on a college for her graduate degree.
“I would not be playing the harp if it were not for my family being so supportive,” Margaret Anne says. “It is no secret that the harp is not the most accessible instrument. I am so supported by my family, even my three siblings have flown to Texas to support me at performances. I love when they are at the performances, and I get to play for them.
“We joke that my parents are my agents, as they are always showing videos of my performances and getting me gigs. They are so wonderful.
“I am continuing to work hard,” Margaret Anne adds “At age 11, I would not have imagined (pursuing a career in music). I’ve found the reason I love music is that I love people, and I love connecting to people through music.”
