Yolanda Kondonassis
Encyclopedia
Yolanda Kondonassis is an American
classical harp
ist. She is one of the world's foremost classical harpists.
She first began playing the piano
, then switched to harp at age nine. She studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan
, then at the Cleveland Institute of Music
. She won the first prize in the 1987 Ima Hogg International Instrumentalists Competition.
Kondonassis has released more than ten CDs (most on the Telarc
label) and has performed as a soloist with many of the world's most prominent orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic
, Cleveland Orchestra
, English Chamber Orchestra
, Detroit Symphony, New York Chamber Symphony
, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Houston Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, Phoenix Symphony
, Buffalo Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.
She has served as orchestral harpist for the Cleveland Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
, San Francisco Symphony
, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
. She has specialized in contemporary classical music
, and the American composers Donald Erb
(Sonata for Solo Harp, 1995) and George Rochberg
have composed works for her.
She is the head of the harp department at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is married to Michael Sachs, the principal trumpet
er of the Cleveland Orchestra
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical harp
Pedal harp
The pedal harp is a large and technically modern harp, designed primarily for classical music and played either solo, as part of chamber ensembles, as soloist with or as a section or member in an orchestra...
ist. She is one of the world's foremost classical harpists.
She first began playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, then switched to harp at age nine. She studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, then at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
. She won the first prize in the 1987 Ima Hogg International Instrumentalists Competition.
Kondonassis has released more than ten CDs (most on the Telarc
Telarc International Corporation
Telarc International Corporation is an independent record label, based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods...
label) and has performed as a soloist with many of the world's most prominent orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
, Detroit Symphony, New York Chamber Symphony
New York Chamber Symphony
The New York Chamber Symphony was an American chamber orchestra based in New York City. It was active from 1977 to 2002.It was founded in 1977 by its founding music director Gerard Schwarz, and Omus Hirshbein. Its original name was the Y Chamber Symphony, and it was the resident ensemble at the...
, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Houston Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, Phoenix Symphony
Phoenix Symphony
The Phoenix Symphony is a major United States symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona.Founded in 1947 when Phoenix had a population of less than 100,000, the orchestra began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year...
, Buffalo Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.
She has served as orchestral harpist for the Cleveland Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
, San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
. She has specialized in contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
, and the American composers Donald Erb
Donald Erb
Donald Erb was an American composer best known for large orchestral works such as Concerto for Brass and Orchestra and Ritual Observances.-Early years:...
(Sonata for Solo Harp, 1995) and George Rochberg
George Rochberg
George Rochberg was an American composer of contemporary classical music.-Life:Rochberg was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended the Mannes College of Music, where his teachers included George Szell and Hans Weisse, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Rosario Scalero and...
have composed works for her.
She is the head of the harp department at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is married to Michael Sachs, the principal trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er of the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
.
External links
- Yolanda Kondonassis official site
- Yolanda Kondonassis interview by Bruce Duffie, 1997