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KATHERINE ILONA
PHOTOGRAPHY
making memories last
MUSIC
Katherine is a harpist in the greater Washington, DC and Lehigh Valley PA area who has had numerous years of performance experience. She has performed as a wedding harpist, in the Pennsylvania Senate, at dinner parties, at special events, and at luncheons. Additionally, Katherine has been a featured soloist with The Reading Symphony, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Bloomington Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra among others.
Katherine Kapelsohn has studied harp for sixteen years and was most recently a student of Elizabeth Hainen, principal harp of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has won numerous awards for her playing including: 1st prize in the American Harp Society Student Concerto Competition; 2nd place in the Reading Symphony Orchestra Student Concert Auditions; 1st place in the Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Competition; was a semi-finalist in the 2008 Lily Laskine Harp Competition in Paris, France; 1st place in the 2008 and 2009 New York Summer Music Festival Student Recital Competition; Musical Excellence Award Winner in the 2011 Indianapolis Symphony Young Musicians Contest; and was the 2012 Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Side by Side Winner. Katie was one of five harpists invited to play in the Stars of Tomorrow Concert at the 2010 USA International Harp Competition and was featured on the NPR Radio Program From The Top. Katie was also recognized on the floor of the Pennsylvania Senate for her use of the harp in music therapy. Most recently Katherine was the featured soloist at the Wounded Warrior Project Courage Awards VIP Reception in Manhattan.
Rates & Details
Wedding Ceremony Details:
For most ceremonies, clients prefer the music to start 15 or 20 minutes before the ceremony is scheduled, to signal seating of the guests. Special mothers' music can be played to seat the mothers. The groom, officiator, & groomsmen usually prefer to enter in silence to create a sense of anticipation. Next, a chosen piece is played for
the bridesmaids to enter, followed by the bride's entrance music. When the ceremony has started, most clients enjoy having a solo performed in the
middle of the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the harpist will play music for the bridal party to exit, followed by music for the guests to exit/mingle.
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Basic Wedding Fee - Please inquire for current rates - dependent upon location.
This covers 20-30 minutes of prelude music, ceremony, and 15 minutes of postlude music
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The following additional charges may apply, depending on your event:
Outdoor Surcharge - fee added when performance is to be outdoors
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Additional Music - per additional hour needed
Can be used for cocktails/dinner when your ceremony & reception are in the same location
Background Music - $400 for 2 hours; $100 each additional hour
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Music for your reception only, or for a reception at a different location from the ceremony
Difficult Location Surcharge
For instance: choir lofts, boats, and other venues with stairs and no elevator
All Wedding packages include unlimited consultations
via telephone and one in-person wedding consultation for music sampling and selection. At the in-person
consultation, the bride can listen to many musical selections, and Katherine will help with recommendations if desired.
Musical Resume
Katherine Ilona Kapelsohn, Harpist - Musical Resume
Phone: 610.984.2902
Email: kikapelsohn@gmail.com
Private Harp Study
June 2012 to present – Elizabeth Hainen, Philadelphia PA
May 2009 to June 2012 - Susann McDonald, Bloomington, Indiana
April 2008 to June 2012 - Elzbieta Szmyt, Bloomington, Indiana
2004 to 2008 - Elizabeth Hainen, Philadelphia, PA
2002 to 2004 - Sarajane Williams, Macungie, PA
Orchestral/Ensemble Experience
2013 to present – Drexel Symphony Orchestra
2012 – Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
2011 – Chamber Music Performance with Quartet Toujour, singer Michael Feinstein
2010 - Featured Soloist with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
2009 – Featured Soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
2009 to 2012 – Saratoga Harp Colony Harp Ensemble
2007 - Featured soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra
2008-2009 - Principal Harp, Musical Arts Youth Orchestra
2006 - Featured soloist with The Reading Symphony Orchestra
2005 - Featured soloist with The Reading Symphony Junior Strings Orchestra
2005-2007 - Principal Harp with the Reading Symphony Junior Strings Orchestra
2004 to 2007 - Macungie Student Harp Ensemble
Awards
2016 - Muhlenberg College Performing Arts Scholarship
2015 – Muhlenberg College Performing Arts Scholarship
2014 – Drexel University Orchestra Outstanding Freshman Musician Award
2014 – Drexel University Westphal College Performing Arts Scholarship
2013 – Drexel University Westphal College Performing Arts Scholarship
2013 – Raptor Benefit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Featured Soloist
2012 – Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Side by Side Competition Winner
2011 – From the Top, Soloist, Show #233, Carmel, IN
2011 – Featured Soloist, Palladium, Carmel, IN
2010 – Soloist, Stars of Tomorrow, USA International Harp Competition
2010 – Indianapolis Symphony Young Musicians Contest Musical Excellence Award
2010 – Featured Soloist to Perform at the Going Away Gala for Charles Dutoit
2010 – Featured Soloist Arthur Zankel Music Center Opening Gala
2009 – 1st Place Student Recital Competition, New York Summer Music Festival
2008 – 1st Place Student Recital Competition, New York Summer Music Festival
2008 – Semifinalist, Lily Laskine Harp Competition, Paris, France
2007 – 1st Place, Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition
2005 – 2nd Place Reading Symphony Orchestra Student Concert Audition
2005 – 1st Place Pennsylvania State Community Service Award for Harp Therapy in Nursing Homes
2004 – 1st Place American Harp Society, Philadelphia Chapter Student Concerto Competition
Harp Masterclasses, Camps and Festivals
2009 to 2011 – Weekly masterclasses with Susann McDonald at Indiana University
2008, 2009 - New York Summer Music Festival camp with Jungeun Kim, The Curtis Institute
2009 to 2012 - Saratoga Harp Colony, Elizabeth Hainen
Masterclass with Jana Bouskova (2009)
Masterclass with Judy Loman (2010)
Masterclass with Susann McDonald (2011)
Masterclass with Maria Luisa Rayan-Forero (2012)
2007 – One week masterclass with Susann McDonald, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2007 – Saratoga Harp Colony with Elizabeth Hainen, Saratoga Springs, NY
2006 – Two day masterclass with Susann McDonald, The Curtis Institute, Philadelphia, PA
2004-2007 – Somerset Folk Harp Festival, Somerset, New Jersey
Community Outreach
2017 - Wounded Warrior Project Courage Awards VIP Reception
2015 - USO Volunteer Concert
2011 to 2013 – Lighthouse Christian Academy School Outreach
2011 – Carmel Elementary School with From the Top
2010 – Lighthouse Christian Academy School Outreach
References:
Elizabeth Hainen - Principal Harpist, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia, PA, The Curtis Institute, Temple University
Jungeun Kim - The Curtis Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Susann McDonald - Distinguished Professor of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, Indiana; Artistic Director The World Harp Congress, Inc.
Elzbieta Szmyt - Associate Professor of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, Indiana
In addition to the above, Katherine has also attended the Somerset Folk Harp Festival, in Somerset, New Jersey for four years where she has taken classes in: Music Theory, Improvisation, Composing, Jazz Harp, Traditional Irish Harp, Renaissance Harp, Native American Flute and Harp, the Bardic Tradition and others. She was a Royal Harpist for the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire for three years, has performed in many church services and weddings. In 2005, at the age of nine, she was recognized on the floor of the Pennsylvania Senate for the harp therapy work she has done for the elderly in nursing homes. In addition to her many hours of volunteer work for nursing homes, civic groups and charities, she has also donated monies paid to her for her performances to the Lyra Society and Peter Brye Cello and Harp Scholarship Fund. In her spare time, Katie worked part time for five years at her local veterinary clinic, and volunteers at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. She is a clinical research assistant at Lehigh Valley Hospital and an EMT at Cetronia Ambulance Corps Station 62.
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© 2017 Photographs by Eliza Jane Photography