Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1963 in Norman, OK

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Crossover

 

 

Keyboard

 

Yolanda Kondonassis is a renowned classical harpist who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Born on November 18, 1963, in Norman, Oklahoma, Kondonassis grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a pianist, and her mother was a singer, so music was always a part of her life. She began playing the harp at the age of ten and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Kondonassis received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Alice Chalifoux, the principal harpist of the Cleveland Orchestra. She then went on to earn her Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, where she studied with Lynne Aspnes. Kondonassis made her professional debut in 1985 with the New York Philharmonic, performing the Harp Concerto by Alberto Ginastera. This performance was a major milestone in her career and helped establish her as a rising star in the classical music world. Since then, Kondonassis has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the London Symphony Orchestra. One of Kondonassis's most notable performances was her 1997 debut at Carnegie Hall, where she performed the Harp Concerto by John Williams with the Boston Pops Orchestra. This performance was a critical and commercial success and helped cement Kondonassis's reputation as one of the world's leading harpists. Kondonassis has also been recognized for her work as a solo artist. In 1991, she won the prestigious Grandjany Memorial Award, which is given to the most outstanding harpist in the United States. She has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Classical Instrumental Solo for her album "Air" in 2008. In addition to her work as a performer, Kondonassis is also a dedicated educator. She has served on the faculty of several prestigious music schools, including the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She has also written several books on the harp, including "The Yolanda Kondonassis Collection" and "The Composer's Guide to Writing Well for the Harp." Kondonassis has recorded over twenty albums throughout her career, showcasing her versatility as a performer. Her repertoire includes works by classical composers such as Bach, Handel, and Debussy, as well as contemporary composers such as John Williams and Jennifer Higdon. One of Kondonassis's most notable recordings is her 2007 album "Pictures of the Floating World," which features works by Japanese composers such as Toru Takemitsu and Somei Satoh. This album was a critical and commercial success and helped introduce many Western audiences to the beauty and complexity of Japanese classical music. Kondonassis has also collaborated with many other musicians throughout her career, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma and soprano Dawn Upshaw. Her collaborations with Upshaw, in particular, have been highly acclaimed, with their album "Voices of Light" receiving a Grammy nomination in 2003. In addition to her work as a performer and educator, Kondonassis is also a dedicated philanthropist. She has established several programs to support young musicians, including the Yolanda Kondonassis Harp Scholarship at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Yolanda Kondonassis Fund for Harp at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

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