Elizabeth Hainen Appointed Artistic Director of the USAIHC
Bloomington, IN - October 28, 2023
The USA International Harp Competition announces an important transition in leadership since its founding in 1989. Elizabeth Hainen is appointed as their new Artistic Director. Emmanuel Ceysson is appointed as their new Associate Artistic Director. Susann McDonald is our Founder and will be Artistic Director Emeritus. Linda Wood Rollo will be our Associate Artistic Director Emeritus. Their dedication and leadership over the past 35 years is unparalleled and has elevated the competition to the world stage as one of the premier solo harp competitions. The board of directors express their deep appreciation for their contributions to this organization and the international harp world.
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 modern-day instrument. As Solo Harpist with the Philadelphia Orchestra for over twenty-five years, she has presented numerous featured performances to captivated audiences and has been praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer for “her ability to blend and color the musical line,” and “to find transparency in an almost timeless atmosphere.” In high demand as a guest artist, Ms. Hainen has collaborated with such eminent conductors and musicians as Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Michael Stern and the Juilliard String Quartet. In addition to The Philadelphia Orchestra, she has appeared as concert soloist with the City of London Sinfonia, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Bulgaria National Radio Orchestra, Mexico State Symphony, and has appeared regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
As an international juror, she has adjudicated for the Baltimore International Guitar Competition, Korea International Harp Competition (Seoul) Lily Laskine Competition (Paris), and Suoni d’Arpa (Saluzzo) as well as appearing at festivals in Cartagena (Colombia), OZ (Australia), Lyon & Healy Harptacular (Chicago) and Shanghai Arts Festival (China). Her most recent recording, Home, was described by The Irish Times as “utterly gorgeous.” A champion of new music, Ms. Hainen gave the US, China, European and Australian Premieres of the Nu Shu: Secret Songs of Women, written especially for her by Tan Dun. The world premiere audio and video recording with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick was released in 2021-22 season.
Elizabeth Hainen’s extraordinary progress took her to Indiana University School of Music, where she received Bachelor and Artist Diploma degrees as a student of Susann McDonald. Hainen holds the Maryjane Mayhew Barton Chair in Harp Studies for the Curtis Institute of Music and also serves as Artistic Director for Harp at Boyer School of Music, Temple University. As Founding Artistic Director of the Lyra Society, an organization to promote new works for the harp and educate young harpists, she has provided educational outreach to hundreds of school children in urban Philadelphia.
