About the Musician
Lauren McCombe, located in Plainfield, Illinois, is a classically trained musician in the Chicagoland area. She has been skilled in playing the harp and the piano for over twenty years.
An alumnus of Northern Illinois University, McCombe earned her Bachelor's of Music and Performer's Certificate studying under Faye Seeman. Her past instructors include Nichole Luchs and Dr. Erin Freund. McCombe has been trained using the Salzedo Method and has performed under the baton of Danko Drusko, Brian Groner, Lucia Matos, Linc Smelser, and many more.
Lauren holds many awards in harp performance, such as the Lyon & Healy Auditions & Evaluations Competition, the Midwest Harp Festival Solo Division, and the Carlos Salzedo Competition. She takes pride in having full house recitals and performs in many well-known Chicago venues such as Drury Lane Theatre, The Four Seasons, The Langham, the Museum of Science & Industry, and Lyon & Healy Hall. McCombe plays a Lyon & Healy Style 85 Concert Grand Pedal Harp.
McCombe’s piano credits cover a large scale – from classical to Broadway to pop to jazz.
She has experience with vocal accompaniment and rock band/piano keyboard ensembles.
She is a member of the Faber Piano Adventures Teacher Atlas and familiar with Royal Conservatory Achievement Program curriculum.
Other than performing, Lauren specializes in music theory, music administration, public relations, marketing, song-writing, and free verse poetry.
McCombe has worked alongside several prominent musical members at higher level educational institutions as a music administrative assistant, music theory & aural skills peer-assisted learning tutor, and social media coordinator. Lauren makes a point to apply these theoretical, business, and musicianship aspects within her lessons.
In February of 2019, McCombe became a published author with her poetry collection "monachopsis" which is a work revolved around the life of a professional musician. The collection was later transformed into a four-movement piece for harp and woodwind quintet by composer Jack Aguirre.
Her 1980s inspired singles "Loved You When is currently available on all major platforms. Her harp playing is featured on Emma Lee's folk-inspired single, "We're All a Little Broken."
Lauren whole-heartedly believes music to be a necessary way to express the poetics of life and carries that philosophy throughout her playing and teaching techniques.