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Courtney Hershey Bress

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International Soloist | Principal Harpist | Chamber Musician | Teacher

Biography

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International soloist and principal harpist Courtney Hershey Bress joined the Colorado Symphony in 2001, after a celebrated freelance career that took her all over the world. Her travels took her to engagements in Asia with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, in the United States with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and, as Principal Harpist with the United States Army Field Band, as soloist and as part of the ensemble, on tour to the 48 continental states. She has been Principal Harpist of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and guest Principal Harpist with the Baltimore Symphony. She has played with the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Strings Music Festival and as a guest artist with the Colorado College Summer Music Festival.

Ms. Bress has performed for the American Harp Society and the World Harp Congress. She was the soloist in the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s only harp concerto Harp of Ages, in May 2023, a piece commissioned by the Colorado Symphony for Ms. Bress. She gave the International premiere with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia in June 2024. She will be performing the piece across the United States starting fall of 2024. The live recording is available on Naxos Records, streaming on all digital platforms.

Ms. Bress is also an active teacher in master classes around the world and in her private teaching studio. She is the Adjunct Professor of Harp at Lamont School of Music, University of Denver; Harp Instructor for the Lamont Summer Academy; and Lecturer of Harp at the University of Wyoming. She was Assistant Professor of Harp at Colorado State University from 2016–2021 and has been visiting Professor of Harp at the Eastman School of Music.

Ms. Bress is the author of the book For Love of the Harp, published by Veritas Musica Publishing. The book gives advice to young musicians and relates stories about her career, then provides a guide to arranging and composing music for the harp.

Ms. Bress was a 2005 GRAMMY® nominee for her performance of Ancient Voices of Children by George Crumb. Her performances can be heard on recordings with the Colorado Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, the U.S. Army Field Band, and on recordings on the Naxos, Bridge, and Albany labels. Her duo album, Night Music and Fantasies, with violinist, Andrés Cárdenes, was released in December 2022.

Ms. Bress earned a Bachelor of Music degree and the Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and received her Master of Music in Orchestral Studies from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. Her teachers include Kathleen Bride, Sarah Bullen, and Gretchen Van Hoesen.

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Harp of Ages 

Michael Daugherty's Harp of Ages is now available from Naxos Records on all digital platforms. 

Harp of Ages
Upcoming Performances:

June 22 and 23, 2024

October 10, 2024

October 12, 2024

March 15, 2025

May 2, 2026

National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia

University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra

Laramie, WY

Wyoming Symphony

Casper, WY

Cheyenne Symphony

Cheyenne, WY

Greensboro Symphony Orchestra

Greensboro, NC

Published Author

For Love of the Harp, a book about writing for the harp for composers and arrangers by Courtney Hershey Bress. 

Performance Gallery

Amanda Tipton Photography

Amanda Tipton Photography

Amanda Tipton Photography

Amanda Tipton Photography

Amanda Tipton Photography

Amanda Tipton Photography

Amanda Tipton Photography

Professional Gallery

From the Hip Photography

Mike Pappas Photography

Mike Pappas Photography

From the Hip Photography

Mike Pappas Photography

Mike Pappas Photography

"Breathes life into every note with extraordinary sensitivity and virtuosity."

Michael Daugherty

Trio Arcadia

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Recognized for their varied and innovative repertoire, the internationally acclaimed Trio Arcadia presents music spanning five centuries and diverse world cultures.  Formed in 2019, the ensemble is comprised of members of the Colorado Symphony who are renowned soloists and have performed on six continents.  With an exciting combination of flute, horn, and harp, a Trio Arcadia performance offers a unique blend of classical, jazz, and world music. Michael Thornton, horn and Julie Thornton, flute.

Courtney Hershey Bress

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