Nancy Allen

Principal harpist of the New York Philharmonic since 1999, Nancy Allen was born in New York City and was a first-prize winner of the 1973 International Harp Competition in Israel. She has toured the U.S. as harp soloist and in duos with flutist Ransom Wilson and has also performed with the English Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Mostly Mozart Festival.

Allen has recorded on the Angel, EMI, RCA, and CRI labels and received a Grammy Award nomination for her recording of Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro. Other recordings include a Bach album, Rodrigo’s Harp Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and contemporary works by Takemitsu, Rochberg, Widdoes, and Richard Wilson. She was awarded the National Endowment Solo Recitalist Grant and has received sponsorship from the Pro Musicis Foundation. Allen holds a BM and MM from Juilliard where she studied with Marcel Grandjany. Formerly on the faculties of the Yale School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Allen has been on the harp faculty at the Aspen Music Festival since 1978. She has been a member of the Juilliard faculty since 1985.