Centerstage: Victoria Greer

By Katie Holt / Photos by Steve Babin

Victoria Greer is a Huntsville musician and entrepreneur who performs and teaches harp. She also co-owns a local ballroom dance business with her husband, Aaron.

You said your passion for the harp first began when you were a young child. What initially drew you to it?

I was a ballet dancer in the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra’s version of The Nutcracker play every year. One year, I looked over the edge into the orchestra pit and saw a bunch of people with dark hair, dark instruments. Then, I noticed a lady sitting in the corner with a gold harp and stark white hair. I was like, “She stands out. I kind of want to do that. That’s pretty cool.” I was listening to her warm up and asked my mom if I could learn. I snuck into the orchestra pit to get her card because my mom said, “If you’re really serious about it, you’ll ask her to give you lessons.” And I did.

That harpist you saw and who became your teacher was Katherine Newman, a former principal harpist of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. At 16, while you were still learning from her, you started college at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. What were those experiences like?

Ms. Newman was amazing to work with and actually helped open up the program for me. I was the first harpist to graduate from UAH. There are only two. The music program at UAH is phenomenal. Dr. Ragsdale was the head of the department for most of my time there. He’s an amazing conductor.

What has been the most rewarding performance or event you’ve played, and why?

Swan Lake two years ago with the Huntsville Ballet. It was a full-circle moment. I got to play with their dancers in the same spot where I saw the harp for the first time. My harp is the same style as my teacher’s, and it sat in the same corner where I first saw her.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for your harp business and for your ballroom dancing business?

My goal for both of those businesses is to raise awareness that it’s something that’s available to try and that you can start learning at any age. My harp studio is in the Clinton Road shops area, and our ballroom business is at Campus 805. Both of these things, ballroom dancing and learning music, at any age, keep you young.