Barbara W. Lepke-Sims, Board President and Chair

November 11, 2025

Barbara W. Lepke-Sims, former student of Susann McDonald, is elected as president and chair of the USA International Harp Competition, Inc. Former president and chair Joyce E. Claflin remains on the board of directors, now serving as vice president. Cheryl D. Cunningham and Fan-Fen Tai have also recently joined the USAIHC board of directors.

Barbara W. Lepke-Sims has been a member of the USAIHC board of directors since 2019, serving as vice president from September 2020 to October 2025. Lepke-Sims holds a Master of Music (MM) from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Susann McDonald. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Lepke-Sims lives in Denver, Colorado, where she teaches harp at Colorado Christian University and is active in the healthcare field as a Certified Music Practitioner and Healing Arts Program Coordinator at a Denver healthcare system.

Lepke-Sims aims to grow what Susann McDonald established, ensuring that McDonald’s work continues to make a difference globally. Lepke-Sims believes “the USAIHC has the opportunity and responsibility to the international harp community to continue our vision and mission, especially ‘bringing people together through the universal language of music’ and to ‘enhance international and community relationships.’ We work to create goodwill amongst various cultures and do our small part to encourage peace in this world.”

Joyce E. Claflin, former president and chair, remains an invaluable and experienced member of the board of directors. She now serves as vice president. Claflin states, “It has been a privilege to work with Barbara W. Lepke-Sims over the past five years, and she is the perfect candidate to lead the organization in carrying on its mission and vision. Her leadership skills, passion for the harp, and care for the USAIHC will provide great new energy to the organization.”

The USAIHC board of directors is composed of leaders in their field, with seven countries represented.