This is a list of people who are notable as harpists, ordered by the first letter of their family name.
A
Mike Absalom - English musician (including harp), poet and children's entertainer Ruth Acuff - American singer-songwriter and harpist Kirsten Agresta - American harpist and a board member of the World Harp Congress Pauline Åhman (1812–1904) - Swedish harpist Silke Aichhorn - German harpist Nancy Allen - American harpist Elias Parish Alvars (1808–1849) - English harpist and composer Glafira Alymova (1758–1826) - Russian lady-in-waiting and harpist Jon Anderson - English-American singer, songwriter and musician, and member of the band Yes Fulgencio Aquino (1915–1994) - Venezuelan musician and composer Dorothy Ashby (1932–1986) - American jazz harpist and composer Athy - Argentinian harpist and composer, also known as 'Athy, the electric harp'
B
Baby Dee Winifred Bambrick - (1892–1969) - Canadian classical musician and novelist Cormac de Barra - Irish singer, musician, and television presenter; part of the Moya Brennan Band William fitz Robert Barry - (fl. 1615) - blind harper in the service of David de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant Derek Bell Lucinda Belle Elinor Bennett Stephanie Bennett Hugo Blanco Hana Blažíková - (born 1980) - Czech soprano, harpist, and interpreter of Baroque, Medieval, and Renaissance music Nicolas-Charles Bochsa - (1789–1856) - French-Australian musician and composer appointed to the Imperial Orchestra Alexander Boldachev - (born 1990) Swiss Russian composer, arranger, harpist of academic, improvised and crossover work; founder of Zurich Harp Festival Jana Boušková (born 1970) Robin Huw Bowen - Exponent of the Welsh Triple Harp and authentic Welsh harp repertoire Cristina Braga Moya Brennan - (born 1952) - Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist; member of Clannad Corina Brouder Giolla Críost Brúilingeach Olivia Buckley Charles Bunworth - (1704 – 1772) - Church of Ireland rector of Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland Ursula Burns Patrick Byrne - (c. 1794 – 1863) - last noted Gaelic harpist in Ireland and first Irish musician to be photographed
C Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano Félix Pérez Cardozo Dee Carstensen Edmar Castañeda Clotilde Cerdà (1861–1926), also known as Esmeralda Cervantes Emmanuel Ceysson Cecilia Chailly Alice Chalifoux Máire Ní Chathasaigh - (born 1956) - five-time winner of the All-Ireland music competition Pearl Chertok Elaine Christy Zhay Clark (1895-1980), later known as Zhay Moor Marie-Elizabeth Cléry - (1761–1795) - French composer and harpist in the court of Marie-Antoinette Alice Coltrane Thomas Connellan - (c. 1640 – 1698) - Irish harper and composer whose "Molly St. George" is one of the earliest Irish harp songs with extant lyrics; brother of William Connellan William Connellan - 17th century Irish harper and composer; brother of Thomas Connellan Cécile Corbel - (born 1980) - Breton recording artist and composer
D Abramino dall'Arpa - (1577–1593) - one of the few Jewish musicians in Mantua, Italy in the late 16th century Abramo dall'Arpa - (died 1566) - Italian harpist in the court of Mantua, Italy, and later tutor of the children of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Rhodri Davies - British harpist and composer Mikaela Davis - American musician, harpist, songwriter, vocalist and producer, known for her work with the band Southern Star Vera Dulova (1909–2000) - Russian harpist and instructor Sophia Dussek (1775–1831) - Italian-British harpist, singer and composer
E
Osian Ellis (1928–2021) - Welsh harpist, composer and teacher Víctor Espínola - Paraguayan multi-instrumentalist and singer, best known for playing the Paraguayan harp
F
Órla Fallon - (born 1974) - Irish soloist, songwriter, and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna Vincent Fanelli - (1881–1966) - Italian-American classical musician and educator, principal harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra Charles Fanning - (1736 – c. 1792) - winner of Ireland's Granard Harp Festival in 1781, 1782, and 1783 Piaras Feiritéar - (c. 1600 – 1653) - poet and Catholic Irish leader Ignacio Figueredo - (1899–1995) - Venezuelan folk musician Catrin Finch - (born 1980) - Welsh harpist, arranger, and composer; Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales from 2000 to 2004 Cheryl Ann Fulton - American performer and teacher
G Mara Galassi Marilinda Garcia Stéphanie Félicité, comtesse de Genlis - (1746–1830) - French writer, harpist, and educator known for her children's works Adele Girard Betty Glamann Félix Godefroid Marie Goossens Sidonie Goossens Tristan Le Govic Phamie Gow Marcel Grandjany
H
Keiji Haino Rachel Hair - Scottish folk harpist Corky Hale Janet Harbison - Irish harper Ruth Berman Harris Alphonse Hasselmans Petra van der Heide Deborah Henson-Conant Corrina Hewat - (born 1970) - winner of Scotland's Music Tutor of the Year award at the 2013 Na Trads Hugh Higgins - (1737–1791) - blind Irish harper Erin Hill Franziska Huhn - (born 1977) - German-American performer and composer; winner of the Jugend musiziert prize Robert ap Huw
I Varvara Ivanova (born 1987) - Russian harpist
J Adria Jackson (musician) - Canadian female traditional Celtic folk singer and harpist Angharad James (1677–1749) - Welsh female poet and harpist James James (1832–1902) Welsh musician, composer of the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau Siân James (born 1961) - Welsh traditional folk singer and harpist Pierre Jamet (1893–1991) - French harpist and teacher Elizabeth Jaxon - American harpist, director of the World Harp Competition and member of the band Atlantic Harp Duo Maria Johansdotter (fl. 1706) - Swedish harpist, folk music player and parish clerk, put on trial for homosexuality and for posing as a man Claire Jones - Welsh harpist Edward Jones (Bardd y Brenin) (1752–1824) - Welsh harpist and collector of music
K
Skaila Kanga Camille and Kennerly Kitt Eduard Klassen Yolanda Kondonassis Maria Korchinska Iris Kroes Johann Baptist Krumpholtz Valeria Kurbatova
L Théodore Labarre - (1805–1870) - French harpist, composer, and professor Lily Laskine - (1893–1988) - French performer and professor who received the Legion of Honour in 1958 Mary Lattimore Lucile Lawrence Anne LeBaron Caroline Leonardelli - French-Canadian performer and recording artist; principal harpist with the Ottawa Symphony Melanie Lewy - (1823–1856) Lloyd Lindroth Judy Loman Lisa Lynne Cornelius Lyons - (1670–1740) - Irish harper of the Earl of Antrim
M
Marie Antoinette - last queen of France Cormac MacDermott - (?–1618) - harper with the English Royal Musick Amhlaeibh Mac Innaighneorach - (?–1168) - Chief Harper of Ireland, one of the earliest recorded Irish professional musicians Manuel Machado Mary Macmaster - (born 1955) - Scottish harpist who performs with The Poozies and in the duo Sileas Eileen Malone José Marín Harpo Marx - (1888–1964) Gulnara Mashurova Susann McDonald Marshall McGuire Loreena McKennitt - (born 1957) - Canadian composer and multi-instrumentalist whose albums have sold more than 14 million copies Geraldine McMahon Katie McMahon Lavinia Meijer Luisa Menárguez Anna Maria Mendieta Orazio Michi Susanna Mildonian Valérie Milot - Canadian soloist and chamber musician; the first harpist to win the Prix d’Europe Áine Minogue Rose Mooney David Murphy
N
François Joseph Naderman Jean Henri Naderman Fatma Ceren Necipoğlu Lily Neill Joanna Newsom
O Máel Sechnaill Ruadh Ó Braonáin Donell Dubh Ó Cathail Eachmarcach Ó Catháin Ruaidri Dáll Ó Catháin Maol Ruanaidh Cam Ó Cearbhaill Eoghain Ó Cianáin Thady Ó Cianáin Fláithrí Ó Corcrán Cearbhall Óg Ó Dálaigh - (fl. 1630) - Irish poet and harpist Diarmuid Ó Dubhagáin Donnchadh Ó Hámsaigh Mary O'Hara Dominic Ó Mongain Máel Ísa Ó Raghallaigh Turlough O'Carolan Arthur O'Neill Natalia O'Shea Rüdiger Oppermann - (born 1954) - German experimental musician; plays a custom-made clàrsach with 38 gold-plated bronze strings and a special mechanism that allows him to bend notes in a manner akin to blues musicians Coline-Marie Orliac - (born 1989) - two-time winner of the USA International Harp Competition Alfredo Rolando Ortiz David Owen Siobhan Owen - (born 1993) - Welsh-Australian soprano; winner of several music awards including two Irish Music Awards
P
Annemiek Padt-Jansen Şirin Pancaroğlu Zeena Parkins John Parry - (1710–1782) - blind Welsh harpist, credited with writing Deck the Halls, inspiration for Thomas Gray's 1757 poem, The Bard (poem) John Parry - (1776–1851) - better known as Bardd Alaw Laura Peperara Roberto Perera Edna Phillips Jemima Phillips Nicholas Dáll Pierce Ann Hobson Pilot - (born 1943) - former principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops
R
Monica Ramos Elizabeth Randles Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean - (born 1960) - Bulgarian concert harpist and academic; a founder of the American University in Bulgaria Casper Reardon Susan Reed Henriette Renié Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz Nansi Richards - (1888–1979) - Welsh harpist appointed official harpist to Charles, Prince of Wales Kim Robertson Marisa Robles Claire Roche Henrik Rohmann - (1910–1978) - Hungarian performer and teacher Clotilde Rosa Mindy Rosenfeld Diana Rowan Isabella Rudkin Jaroslav Řídký - (1897–1956) - Czech composed, conductor, harpist, and teacher
S Floraleda Sacchi - (born 1978) - recording artist, composer, and musicologist from Italy Arnold Safroni-Middleton Victor Salvi Carlos Salzedo Arianna Savall Anne van Schothorst Patsy Seddon - Scottish harpist known for work with The Poozies, Sileas, and Clan Alba Therese Schroeder-Sheker Marianne Smit David Snell (musician) Monika Stadler Hilary Stagg Serafina Steer Savourna Stevenson Alan Stivell - (born 1944) - Celtic recording artist Jessica Suchy-Pilalis Tomoko Sugawara Andrei Sychra
T Mia Theodoratus John Thomas Thomas Thomas Julia Thornton Miriam Timothy Beste Toparlak Juan Vicente Torrealba Marcel Tournier Tuotilo JoAnn Turovsky
V Verónica Valerio - Mexican harpist, singer and composer Remy van Kesteren - Dutch harpist and founder of the 1000 Strings Festival Andreas Vollenweider - Swiss harpist
W Maria Jane Williams (c.1795–1873) - Welsh harpist Sylvia Woods (harpist) - American harpist and composer Aristid von Würtzler (1925–1997) - Hungarian-American leader of the New York Harp Ensemble
Y Astrid Ydén (1881–1963) - Swedish harpist Gráinne Yeats (1925–2013) - Irish harpist, singer and historian Brandee Younger - American harpist
Z Nicanor Zabaleta Liao Zilan Vincenzo Zitello
References