A passionate harpist of over thirteen years, Peter May is currently based in Atlanta, where he recently graduated summa cum laude from Emory University as a music recipient of the prestigious Robert W. Woodruff scholarship. While at Emory, he performed frequently as Principal Harpist with the Emory University Symphony Orchestra & Emory Wind Ensemble. An avid collaborator, he also programmed chamber works on his solo recitals and premiered new compositions by classmates. At the Brevard Music Center’s 2024 Summer Institute & Festival, Peter attended the college orchestral program, a seven-week amalgamation of orchestra concerts, individual lessons, harp ensemble rehearsals, & audition preparation. Peter played principal harp on Holst’s The Planets, second harp on Debussy’s La Mer with Brevard’s side-by-side faculty & student orchestra, as well as numerous other works. Another highlight was performing on a concert presented by flautist Claire Chase, in which Peter & fellow musicians dove into an improvisatory score by Pauline Oliveros. In 2023, Peter joined the Emory Music Department in Northern Italy, performing three public chamber concerts as part of the Cremona International Summer Music Festival. A student of Elisabeth Remy Johnson and Jacquelyn Bartlett, he has also previously played as Principal Harpist of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen Arts Camp and performed with all-state & regional honors orchestras across North Carolina. Having earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, Peter also completed a second joint major in Classics & English, for which his senior thesis on Ancient Roman divination received highest honors.