Stockton, Ann Mason

Ann Mason Stockton (1916-2006) is most well-known as the Hollywood harpist. Having played for over eight hundred film scores, she has been very actively involved in the American Harp Society and was president of the society for four years.

Ann Mason Stockton is known for her great leadership amongst those in the harp community. She received this reputation because of the number of years she served in the American Harp Society (AHS), and for being a Chairman and founding member of the World Harp Congress.

Ann was born October 30, 1916 and took interest in the harp at a very early age. Although she started both piano and harp around the same time, she dropped piano quickly and spent her time focusing on the harp. She received her first pedal harp when she was seven, and at nine years old she began harp lessons with Alfred Kastner. She attended the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, San Mateo Junior College, and received a Bachelor of Education Degree from UCLA. She played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic before going into commercial music.

Ann Mason Stockton was pivotal in starting the AHS chapter in Los Angeles, and in 1968 she was invited to serve as a National Chairman for AHS, which lead to twelve years of service, from 1968 to 1980. For six years she sat on the Board of Directors, serving the last four as President of the AHS. Many new committees were established while she was president, including Advisory, Fund Raising, Grandjany Memorial Fund, Research Projects, and School and Faculties for Harp Study. She performed at Conferences in 1966, 1970, and 1974. Ann Mason Stockton died August 11, 2006 in her home in Los Angeles.

From the guide to the Ann Mason Stockton papers, 1953-2004, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)