Nancy Allen, Harp
“A major artist, with virtuosity all the more impressive for
being incidental to the projection of expressive values.”
                                                                        - The New York Times

has recorded extensively and toured worldwide as orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. She now balances her busy solo career with her new position as Principal Harpist of the New York Philharmonic, a post to which she was appointed in 1999. First prize winner of the Fifth International Harp Competition in Jerusalem, Nancy Allen has performed as soloist with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Mexico Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and L’Ensemble de l’Orchestre de Paris, among many others. She has appeared on Lincoln Center’s great Performers series and has also given numerous recital performances here and abroad. A guest artist and faculty member of the Aspen Festival since 1978, Ms. Allen has also performed at Mostly Mozart, the Casals Festival, the Southbank Festival (London), the Eastern Music Festival, Chamber Music northwest, the Seattle Chamber Music Festival and in Washington as part of the series “Music of the Supreme Court. " In May 2001 she appeared with the New York Philharmonic for the world premiere of Siegfried Matthus’ Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra. Ms. Allen is the most recorded of American harpists, appearing with many great artists including Kathleen Battle. She was also featured on PBS’ Great Performances.