It was just 8 years ago that Lauren Hayes graduated from high school. Since then, the Whitewater native has performed twice at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, she has concertized across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Brazil.

On Saturday, June 9, Lauren returns home to present a free one-hour recital at 7:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Whitewater. Lauren will be performing compositions on both her acoustic harp and her electric harp. The one-hour concert will range from classical solos to popular selections.

Through a national competitive audition, Lauren received a Fellowship to the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) for this summer. The Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship Program is the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer academy for advanced musical study. The TMC offers an intensive schedule of study and performance for emerging professional instrumentalists, singers, conductors, and composers. It would be impossible to list all the distinguished musicians who have studied at the Tanglewood Music Center. According to recent estimates, 20 percent of the members of American symphony orchestras, and 30 percent of all first-chair players studied at the TMC. Alumni of the Tanglewood Music Center play a vital role in the musical life of the nation as performers and composers. The Tanglewood Music Center maintains its commitment to the future as one of the world’s most important training grounds for the composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists of the future. Lauren will be performing in a variety of settings, from a famous duet for harp and tenor to several full symphony performances, including the closing concert with Yo-Yo Ma.

There is no admission charge for this concert. Freewill offerings will be graciously accepted.