Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) was a famous American harpist and composer.

Carlos Salzedo was born born April 6, 1885. He was the premier prix winner in two instruments at the Paris Conservatoire when graduating at the age of 16. He moved to New York in 1909 and became the first harpist of the Metropolitan Opera for four years under the direction of Toscanini. He established the Trio de Lutece in 1913 and the Salzedo Harp Ensemble in 1917. He helped Varese organize the International Composers' Guild in 1921. He was also active in ISCM, the Pan American Association of Composers, Pro-Musica, and the New Music Society of California under Cowell's direction. He taught at Juilliard and organized the harp department in 1924 at the Curtis Institute of Music. He founded the Salzedo Harp Colony in 1931. He served as President of the American Harp Society and editor of the Eolian Review. He died August 17, 1961.

The Salzedo Harp Colony (Salzedo School) (1931-2002) was a harp workshop run in Camden, Maine.

The Salzedo School was founded in 1931 in Camden, Maine, by Carlos Salzedo. His idea for the Harp Colony was to create a place for intensive private study that is not possible during the regular concert season.

Carlos Salzedo and his second wife, Lucile Lawrence, bought a home in Camden, Maine. The intent was to spend concentrated time to do nothing but practice while vacationing in a beautiful and comfortable climate. Salzedo remodeled the house and opened it up to musicians of all ages and levels. Instead of building dormitories for summer students, Salzedo encouraged students to stay with local families. He knew that money from their boarding would help year round residents, while maintaining ties to the community. They had weekly chamber music concerts, which gave the musicians a chance to play for each other. After Salzedo died in 1961, his Summer Harp Colony was passed on to one of his most brilliant pupils, Alice Chalifoux. Under her direction, most students would stay for six weeks, taking two lessons per week, and were required to practice for five hours a day. She continued Salzedo's tradition of a group photograph, where everyone wore white. In June 2002, Alice fell and broke her hip and ended up cancelling lessons for the rest of the summer. No one knew at the time that this would be the last summer of the School. The price for taxes and upkeep had become very expensive. Alice put the house on the market, and it sold quickly.