Artist Biography

Elizabeth Hainen, Harp

Elizabeth Hainen has won international acclaim as one of today's foremost harpists. Hailed by the Washington Post for her "unusual presence with silky transparency", she has charmed audiences as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. Engagements include the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the Mexico State Symphony, the John F. Kennedy Center Orchestra, New World Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra, in addition to performances with the Paris Opera Ballet and Vienna Boys Choir. An active chamber musician, Ms. Hainen has performed at the Festivals of Grand Tetons, Kingston, Marlboro, Sachsisch Bohmisches and the World Harp Congress. She has collaborated as soloist with such eminent conductors as Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Wolfgang Sawallisch.

Ms. Hainen's 2007-2008 season includes solo appearances and recitals with the Bulgaria National Radio Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the French Embassy in Washington D.C., the National Symphony Orchestra of Bogota, Columbia, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Washington College Concert Series. Her recordings include Music for Solo Harp on the Naxos label and a recording series for Lyon & Healy on the Eagen label. Ms. Hainen recently finished recording three concertos with Rossen Milanov and the National Radio Orchestra of Bulgaria to be released later this season.

Champion of a number of impressive awards, Ms. Hainen's honors include winner of the American String Teachers Association and the Chicago Symphony Civic Orchestra Competitions, and the Silver Medalist at the first USA International Harp Competition, where she was awarded the Orrego-Salas Prize. Ms. Hainen's advocacy for contemporary music and the expansion of her instrument's repertoire has included several world premiere commissions, performances and recordings including works by Pulitzer Prize Winners Bernard Rands and Melinda Wagner.

Elizabeth Hainen is the Principal Harpist for The Philadelphia Orchestra and serves on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University. She is the director and founder of the Saratoga Harp Colony and has recently founded The Lyra Society, a nonprofit organization to promote new works for the harp and educate young musicians. Ms. Hainen was born in Toledo, Ohio, where she made her concerto debut at the age of 13 with the Perrysburg Orchestra. Her extraordinary progress took her to Indiana University School of Music, where she received Bachelor's and Artists Diploma degrees as a student of Susann McDonald.