This is [harp]  life

We asked harpists around the world to show us what their harp lives look like by sharing their photos on social media using the hashtag #practicalharpist. We saw hundreds of photos—from interesting to absurd. Here are a few of our favorites from this challenge. Check out the rest of the amazing entries by searching #practicalharpist on Instagram , Twitter , or Facebook .

Winner: @melanieharps, New York City, N.Y.

Winner

Mélanie Genin
@melanieharps New York City, N.Y.
Source: Instagram
Caption: This is how my daily life looks. Casual stroll with the baby.
Age: 26
What pays the bills? Freelance NYC harpist
What’s your hidden talent? Baking soufflés and a Tetris-like ability to pack oversized luggage, my harp, and miscellaneous other things within the tiniest cars.
What do you do to avoid practicing? I make tea and call my friends as well as my godfather scattered over a 13-hour time zone scope. I go for cocktails with my New York friends. Friends are sacred to me.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be Catherine Michel because of the Salvi Poster—the one with her posing on the Garnier Paris Opera stairs (my favorite landmark in Paris). I have a passion for opera and for dresses so this was just perfection. The dress aged a little bit, she didn’t. I met her she’s a stunning and lovely woman. I also wanted to be best friend or sister with Isabelle Moretti. I thought she was so “cool” posing in the middle of the wheat field. Isabelle was my teacher at Paris Conservatoire, and I am still amazed about her ability to handle a white combi-pants that gracefully. That was a serious #practicalharpist photo shoot right there!
What’s your favorite smartphone app? Living in NYC I can’t survive without Hopstop, Yelp, and Kickmap. And Cleartune and Vmetronome can save you in time of crisis.

Runners Up

(Click on any image to begin full-size slide show.)

Up Next

#practicalharpist Pet Challenge

Join in our next photo challenge! Harpists love their instruments almost as much as their pets. Post photos of your furry friend and harp on social media by June 1 with the hashtag #practicalharpist. Our favorite harp-loving pet photo will win a one-year subscription to Harp Column and be featured in the July/August 2015 issue.