Yolanda Kondonassis
Head, Harp Department
Harp Faculty, Conservatory
Chamber Music Faculty, Conservatory
Harp DepartmentChamber Music Department
Introduction
Yolanda Kondonassis is celebrated as one of the world’s premier solo harpists and is widely regarded as today’s most-recorded classical harpist. Hailed as “viscerally exciting” (The Chicago Tribune) and a “brilliant and expressive player” (The Dallas Morning News), she has performed around the globe as a concerto soloist and in recital. With twenty-three albums and hundreds of thousands of discs and downloads sold worldwide, Kondonassis’ extensive discography includes the world premiere recording of Jennifer Higdon’s Harp Concerto (written for her) and Air, featuring music by Takemitsu and Debussy. She received GRAMMY nominations for both projects, and Jennifer Higdon’s Harp Concerto received a 2020 GRAMMY Award. Kondonassis has published four books to date (all with Carl Fischer Music) and presents masterclasses around the world.
Education
- Interlochen Arts Academy
- BM and MM, Cleveland Institute of Music; studied with Alice Chalifoux
Teaching Experience
Cleveland Institute of Music
Head, Harp Department
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Head, Harp Department