Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Gretchen Van Hoesen is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of music. She was born on September 10, 1945, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, USA. Her parents were both musicians, and they encouraged her to pursue music from a young age. She started playing the piano at the age of four and later switched to the harp when she was nine years old. Van Hoesen attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied under Eileen Malone. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1967 and went on to pursue a Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School in New York City. She studied under Marcel Grandjany, a renowned harpist, and graduated in 1969. After completing her studies, Van Hoesen began her professional career as a harpist. She joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1970 as the principal harpist, a position she held for 40 years until her retirement in 2010. During her tenure with the orchestra, she performed in numerous concerts and recordings, including the Grammy Award-winning recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. Van Hoesen has also performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She has collaborated with many renowned conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and Lorin Maazel. In addition to her orchestral work, Van Hoesen is also an accomplished chamber musician. She has performed with many chamber ensembles, including the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the Marlboro Music Festival. Van Hoesen has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1989, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Harp Society. In 2006, she was awarded the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's "Excellence in Musicianship" award. In 2010, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pittsburgh Concert Society. Van Hoesen has also been a dedicated teacher throughout her career. She has taught at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, the Duquesne University School of Music, and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Many of her students have gone on to successful careers as harpists. In addition to her teaching, Van Hoesen has also been an advocate for the harp. She has commissioned many new works for the harp and has worked to expand the repertoire for the instrument. She has also been involved in the development of new harp designs, working with the Lyon & Healy Harp Company to create a new model of harp. Van Hoesen has recorded many albums throughout her career, including solo albums and recordings with orchestras and chamber ensembles. Her recordings have received critical acclaim and have been praised for their technical skill and musicality. In 2010, Van Hoesen retired from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra after 40 years of service. She continues to perform as a soloist and chamber musician and is actively involved in teaching and promoting the harp. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, the composer and pianist David Stock.

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