Harpist Elizabeth Johnson is a senior at Oberlin Conservatory, pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Diane Evans. Her passion for storytelling through music has shaped her musical and academic pursuits, as noted in projects completed while obtaining her Music Theory and History minors. When curating programs for performances, she draws on the knowledge gained from these projects and research to create engaging and captivating recital programs that enthrall her audiences. Elizabeth is also an active member of a harp and horn duo at Oberlin.
As an orchestral musician, she has served as principal harpist during her tenure at Oberlin, including during the Oberlin Orchestra Carnegie Hall tour in 2023 and the Oberlin Orchestra performances of the Pulitzer prize-winning opera Omar in 2024. She also held principal positions at the Interlochen Arts Academy, including during the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra Miami Tour in 2020. She is currently the Principal Harpist for the Ashland Symphony and served as the 2nd harpist for several National Repertory Orchestra concerts during the Summer 2024 season.
Her former teachers include Yolanda Kondonassis, Joan Raeburn Holland, and Mary Jane D’Arville. Her recent awards include 1st Place in her age category for the World’s Best Musicians Competition, Finalist for the Oberlin Conservatory Senior Concerto Competition, and Second Prize in the Strings Division for the American Youth Talent Competition. She has performed in masterclasses for renowned harpists including Elizabeth Hainen, Lynne Aspnes, and Charles Overton.
Elizabeth looks forward to completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Harp Performance and continuing to hone her skills in her post-graduate studies. In the future, she looks forward to engaging with her community and creating programs that intertwine her passion for teaching with her love of storytelling with her music.
