Elizabeth Hainen

Elizabeth Hainen has earned an international reputation as one of classical music’s great harp ambassadors. Hailed by the Washington Post for her “unusual presence with silky transparency” and by the New York Times for her “earthy solidarity,” Hainen has thrilled audiences throughout the world with programs showcasing the diversity and virtuosity of her instrument. She has been the Principal Harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra for over 20 years, and has appeared as soloist with major orchestras around the world and in numerous recitals at Carnegie Hall. She has launched major commissioning projects, including works by Pulitzer Prize winners Bernard Rands and Melinda Wagner. Hainen treated audiences to the premiere of Nu Shu: Secret Songs of Women, commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra and written for her by Tan Dun. In 2023, she was appointed Artistic Director for the USA International Harp Competition, and she serves on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music and Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University.