Principal Harpist of the San Diego Symphony, Julie Ann Smith has established herself as one of the most prominent young harpists today, performing as both an orchestral musician and concert artist. Gaining international recognition for her charismatic performing style and diverse repertoire, Ms. Smith was the Silver medalist winner in the 2004 USA International Harp Competition and Bronze medalist in 2001. She made her National Symphony Orchestra debut in 2003 and has been honored in numerous competitions throughout the country. Her other honors include grand prizes in the Corpus Christi International Young Artist Competition and the Midland/Odessa National Young Artist Competition, both open to all instrumentalists.
Captivating audiences worldwide with her dramatic presence and engaging style, Ms. Smith is active as a recitalist and soloist with orchestra. Her appearances include performances with the New World Symphony Orchestra, the South Dakota Symphony, the Midland/Odessa Symphony Orchestra, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra. In early 2010 she will be a featured soloist with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra as well as the West Los Angeles Symphony. She has been the opening recitalist for the American Harp Society National Conference and the 2007 USA International Harp Competition. She also continues to perform as a soloist on concert series across the country each season.
Ms. Smith is equally experienced as a chamber and orchestral musician collaborating with renowned musicians across the country. A founding member of the San Diego-based Myriad Trio, she regularly appears in chamber concerts & festivals and has performed abroad in Italy and Japan. She has attended the Tanglewood Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto USA Festival, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. During the 2006-07 season she was the Acting Principal Harpist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and prior to that held the position of Principal Harpist for the New World Symphony Orchestra. She has held other principal positions throughout the country and continues to serve as substitute & section harpist with the St. Louis & Milwaukee Symphonies.
Ms. Smith has experience in teaching both piano and harp students. She currently maintains a harp studio and teaches students of all ages. She has served on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and supplements her performance schedule with master-classes across the county. Coinciding with her solo engagements, Ms. Smith frequently performs outreach activities going into the schools, retirement homes and communities to share about the harp.
Ms. Smith has released her first album, The Rhapsodic Harp, which is available from her website, www.harpjas.com. Attending the Cleveland Institute of Music, she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in harp performance where she studied with Yolanda Kondonassis. Her other primary teachers have included Patrice Lockhart and Alice Chalifoux. A native of Hastings, NE, Ms. Smith began studying the harp at age eleven.
