Katherine Kappelmann

Currently based in Houston, Katherine began playing the harp at the age of seven and performing professionally at the age of ten, appearing as a soloist and with ensembles across the United States and in Europe. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, where she studied music, history, and risk management and insurance, and a Master of Music in harp performance from the Manhattan School of Music, a renowned conservatory in New York City. In addition, Katherine has studied at the Royal College of Music in London, UK, and the Académie Musique de Cabris in Cabris, France. 

As an orchestral musician, Katherine is Principal Harpist with San Angelo Symphony and regularly appears around Texas with ensembles such as Galveston Symphony, Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas, and many others. She has appeared in venues including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and Riverside Church in NYC, collaborating with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Martyn Brabbins, George Manahan, and Kent Tritle. While at Baylor, Katherine served as principal harpist of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra and performed with ensembles across Texas, including Waco Symphony, Hardin Simmons University Orchestra, Angelo State University Chorus, Baylor University Opera Theatre, and McLennan College Choir. As a soloist, Katherine has won and placed in numerous state, national, and international competitions, including the Hong Kong International Harp Competition, Emerging Artists Concerto Contest, TMEA All Region and All State, American Harp Society in Dallas Competition, Permian Basin Harp Competition, and San Angelo Young Musician’s Festival.

Katherine has had the opportunity to study with some of the harp world’s most respected instructors, including Susan Jolles, associate musician of the Metropolitan Opera and pupil of Marcel Grandjany, a founder of modern harp technique, and Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche, one of the last surviving students of the great harpist and composer Marcel Tournier. In addition, Katherine has worked with many other distinguished harpists, including Mariko Anraku and Emmanuel Ceysson of the Metropolitan Opera, Paula Page of the Houston Symphony, Judy Loman of the Toronto Symphony, Marie-Pierre Langlamet of the Berlin Philharmonic, Anneleen Lenaerts of the Vienna Philharmonic, and Marisa Robles of England.