Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Martin Frazier.
Julia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Julia Martin Frazier, and I am the owner and creator of “Harp & Home”. I have been a professional harpist for my entire adult life. I am a mom of two, with my husband of 22 years. I am a real estate advisor with Monument Sotheby’s International Realty in Baltimore, Maryland. I am a writer and author of Everyday Julia – a growing collection of essays and reflections on grappling with the complexities of living modern life. I have a little Etsy shop with items I’ve designed – mostly pickleball themed (yes, I am a 50-something year old who has fallen to the craze). Over these last three decades, I have followed my heart doing what I love, always guided by my love for beautiful and functional design. I’ve performed a lot of music, created music series and performance spaces, and have helped people buy and sell homes to live more fully. My path has been interesting and adventurous, and hardly has it been an easy, clear, or linear one.
From the time I was a kid growing up in my parent’s home in Omaha, Nebraska, art and music have always been a part of my life. Becoming a professional harpist, however, came a bit out of left field. I took piano lessons as a kid, sang in my high school choirs, and had some lead roles in our school plays – but performing at a professional level was never a thought in my mind. And the harp? No way. I had never seen nor touched a harp until I was a senior in high school. My very first encounter with the instrument was when my high school choir performed a piece for treble choir and harp. I was completely mesmerized by the instrument, and captivated by the sound of it. That was where it all began.
I went away to University that fall after graduating high school, with no intention of studying music, much less the harp. But obsession is a powerful thing. I was more interested in finding a harp to play during that school year than studying for my classes. So I found an old harp in the Fine Arts Building, and was granted permission to use it – as long as I could figure out how to get it in playable condition. In a pre-internet world, I found diagrams explaining how to string a harp, and some harp music to play. I called home for tips on how to position my hands. Don’t ask me how the universe laid this out for me – but I was offered an opportunity to audition at Oberlin Conservatory of Music for a spot in the harp studio of the world renowned harpist, Alice Chalifoux. I grabbed it.
After completing my degrees in Harp and Art History, graduate school was next on the horizon. The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland was my destination. I had every intention of spending my two years here and moving on. However, thirty years later, Baltimore remains home – where I reside with my husband and two sons. My oldest will head off to college this fall, and the younger will start his first year of high school. Time flies!
WHAT DOES ONE DO WITH A MASTER’S DEGREE IN HARP?
Being a harpist for hire means taking all kinds of performance opportunities, gigging, and teaching. Unless you land a full-time job with a major orchestra (very few are available and they are even harder to win), a career harpist must be creative and open to all kinds of crazy and unpredictable jobs. My training prepared me for performing classical solo and orchestral music, and so I tried pretty hard to do that. It was thrilling to have the chance to perform with such prestigious organizations as The Baltimore Symphony and National Symphony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. But if I’m being honest, I probably had more fun playing on stage with Earth, Wind & Fire, and Kanye West – artists who brought the energy that inspired me to consider stepping outside the bounds of classical performance.
For many years, I kept busy and paid the rent by running a small booking company for special events called HarpSound Productions. I could write a book about the countless weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, birthday celebrations for which I’ve played. As a freelance musician, playing these events comes with the territory, but a steady gig is gold. Another door opened for me when I was offered the regular job of Harpist in Residence at The Ritz Carlton Hotel, and in the notorious “Peacock Alley” of the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC. You just never know what dignitaries, celebrities, politicians, and heads of state might walk by, or sit at a table a few feet away.
In 2008, I had the privilege of becoming a co-producer for Summer Chamber Music in Roland Park – a classical music series which started percolating in the mind and heart of Artistic Director Jackie Capecci in 2007. She and I dreamed of creating a series of relaxed concerts where the players performed their favorite pieces – much like we did at summer festivals we had attended in the past. Our vision was to create intimate gatherings with music, food, and wine with a relaxed summer vibe. We were so grateful for our favorite local chefs and restaurants, who were willing to contribute to our summer soirées. Every Tuesday in July through 2018 – we propped open the doors of Roland Park Presbyterian Church, and invited people in. Sunlight streamed through the windows upon the performers as evening fell, and we shared our time and talent with those who wanted to be a part of it. We did this – just because it was fun, and because that’s how you throw a good party.
NEW HORIZONS
My creative (and entrepreneurial) spirit is always looking for new challenges. About a decade ago, I decided to pursue something new. Getting my real estate license seemed like a fun idea, there were many aspects of selling real estate that were appealing to me. I am enamoured by the architectural and functional use of different spaces, and the idea of helping people find the best place to live seemed like something I could be good at. Being a real estate agent means running your own small business, and doing this allows me to be creative in new ways. With every home I market for sale, I have the chance to tell a captivating story. Creating these narratives through social media is yet another way to channel my creative spark.
THE BALTIMORE HARP PROJECT
In a world of political division, economic and global uncertainty, things have felt pretty unsettling lately. So in the fall of 2025 I asked myself, what can a girl with a harp, some nice photography and a decent singing voice do to help people out? Literally in the middle of the night, I dreamed up The Baltimore Harp Project. I wanted to offer (again), an opportunity for people to come together – to take a break from their devices and the doom that seems so ever present in the media and news headlines. Music and art transcends and heals. We need that so much right now.
I located a beautiful space to use. Every Sunday evening, from November to February (with one online broadcast due to snow), I lugged in my big old harp, some candles, and a digital projector to create a multi-media arts experience for people to enjoy. I made slideshows of my own photography, sang some songs, and brought some of my favorite poetry to share. I was making it up as I went along. I looked forward to Sunday evenings, in the cold and dark months of the winter, to enjoy the candlelight and music with one another. In a time when AI is taking over so many facets of our daily lives – sharing our real life music making and time together reminds us that we all have far more in common with each other than that which divides us, and all people, everywhere.
The Harp Project is on a summer pause. I am dreaming of what it will look like when I reinvent the experience – with new energy, new ideas, new collaborators. Stay tuned.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No! I would not call the road I’ve traveled a smooth and easy one. Any self-employed person will tell you it takes courage to embrace a lifestyle of unpredictable income streams and unusual hours. There have been many times, and still are, when I crave a bit more stability and predictability. But having the freedom to do the work I love while being somewhat in control of my own work/life balance is what it’s all about for me.
I, like most people, have suffered loss. In 2007, My father’s life was taken suddenly and violently by a psychiatric patient who was in his care within the State Hospital where he worked. It was devastating. My father was an enormously formative figure in my life, and we were very close. Much of my life’s work has been directly influenced by his own love for music and the arts, and innovative spirit. After his death, I could either allow my grief to consume me, and turn away from the beauty that reminded me of him constantly – or I could double down on it, and on the positivity of his influence on me and so many others. The only viable option for me was to move forward. Keep creating. Keep making music. Keep doing the right thing. Stay focused on what truly matters. That’s how Dad spent his entire life, and I try to keep that spirit flowing in all that I do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a real estate agent and advisor with Monument Sotheby’s International Realty. I help people buy and sell homes throughout the Baltimore area. I’d like to think I specialize in providing a very personal and caring approach to overseeing each client’s experience. I am known for being a trusted resource for my clients, and for making the process creative, transparent and fun. I am proud that I have helped hundreds of clients achieve success finding and creating a home. It brings me great joy to connect with my clients through every part of a transaction, to minimize stress, and pass those keys at the settlement table!
My background in the arts gives me a unique perspective. My keen sense of presentation and design certainly helps when marketing the homes I’m selling. I think I have an intuitive nature that allows me to create a tailor-made experience for every client. I pair my knowledge and expertise with the goals of my clients to create sometimes unexpected and really fun outcomes. I never approach two clients or transactions in the same way. Each new home, buyer, and owner has a story to tell. I meet them where they are, and I’m always learning something new.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I Was previously asked this question: Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
If you’re lucky enough to have access to someone who is exceptionally good at something you aspire to be good at, by all means try to get in their orbit. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, and believe that good things are possible. The best dreams are ridiculous and impossible. Search out people who also think beyond the practical, and who have had success in making their own dreams come true.
Don’t let the attempt to achieve perfection stop you from putting something out there. Nothing is perfect at its inception. Share your work with others, for conversation and collaboration bring growth. Creating something in solitude and darkness is too hard. Find safe launching spaces. Believe in what you have to offer – you’ll be surprised how your courage to start something inspires others about your project, and maybe even their own. Creativity is brave and contagious. Be the inspiration, and let your dreams take flight!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://harpandhome.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliafrazierrealtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliafrazierrealtor
- Other: https://jmfrealestate.com/
