Nancy Allen (harpist)
Encyclopedia
Nancy Allen is a prominent harp
ist from the United States
.
The daughter of a public school music teacher in the Carmel
, New York
district, she won numerous international competitions starting at a young age. In 1973 she won first prize at the Fifth International Harp Competition in Israel
, which is one of the most prestigious international harp competition in the world. Since 1999 she has been the Principal Harpist of the New York Philharmonic
, and in her 20-year teaching career has trained many successful students as well as serving concurrently as head of the harp departments at the Juilliard School
(where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees), Yale School of Music
, and Aspen Music Festival and School
. Her own teachers included Pearl Chertok
, Lily Laskine
, Marcel Grandjany
, and her predecessor at Juilliard, Susann McDonald
.
She has made numerous recordings (one nominated for a Grammy Award
) and has performed solo concerts for thirty years.
Both her sisters are also noteworthy harpists. Her sister Barbara Allen is the principal harpist for the American Ballet Theater Orchestra and the Greenwich Symphony. Her sister Jane Allen is the principal harpist for the Eugene Symphony
.
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The daughter of a public school music teacher in the Carmel
Carmel, New York
Carmel is a town located in Putnam County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 36,465.There are no incorporated villages in the town, although the hamlets of Carmel and Mahopac each have populations sizable enough to be thought of as villages.The Town of Carmel...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
district, she won numerous international competitions starting at a young age. In 1973 she won first prize at the Fifth International Harp Competition in Israel
The International Harp Contest in Israel
is regarded as the most important harp competition in the world. Founded in 1959 by Aharon Zvi Propes in the city of Jerusalem, it was the first competition for the harp in the history of the instrument.-Winners of Past Competitions:2009...
, which is one of the most prestigious international harp competition in the world. Since 1999 she has been the Principal Harpist of 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"...
, and in her 20-year teaching career has trained many successful students as well as serving concurrently as head of the harp departments at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
(where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees), Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
, and Aspen Music Festival and School
Aspen Music Festival and School
The Aspen Music Festival and School, founded in 1949, is an internationally renowned classical music festival that presents music in an intimate, small-town setting...
. Her own teachers included Pearl Chertok
Pearl Chertok
Pearl Chertok was an internationally regarded harpist and composer for harp....
, Lily Laskine
Lily Laskine
Lily Laskine was one of the most prominent harpists of the twentieth century. She was a frequent performing partner of several distinguished French flautists, including Marcel Moyse and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Laskine also served as professor of harp at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1948 to 1958...
, Marcel Grandjany
Marcel Grandjany
Marcel Georges Lucien Grandjany was a French-born American harpist and composer. He began the study of the harp at the age of eight with Henriette Renié. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at age eleven where he also studied with Alphonse Hasselmans, winning the coveted Premier Prix at age...
, and her predecessor at Juilliard, Susann McDonald
Susann McDonald
Susann McDonald is an American-born classical harpist. In addition to a successful performing career, she has made a number of recordings and held significant academic and organizational posts.-Life:...
.
She has made numerous recordings (one nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
) and has performed solo concerts for thirty years.
Both her sisters are also noteworthy harpists. Her sister Barbara Allen is the principal harpist for the American Ballet Theater Orchestra and the Greenwich Symphony. Her sister Jane Allen is the principal harpist for the Eugene Symphony
Eugene Symphony
The Eugene Symphony is an American orchestra based in Eugene, Oregon. Its home venue is the Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.Approximately 27,000 people attend Eugene Symphony's classical and pops concert performances each year....
.