Solo Harp, Wedding Harpists - WashingtonCelebrations.Com

Nadia Pessoa

Nadia has emerged as one of the most vibrant and exciting young harpists today. Currently the harpist with the US Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington DC, she has performed throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Brazil. With a career spanning over 20 years, she has appeared as soloist with the Lima Symphony Orchestra in Ohio and the Fort Collins Symphony, where she made her debut in 2005 playing the Ginastera Concerto under the direction of Wes Kenney. Nadia holds degrees in Harp Performance from Indiana University and the University of Michigan, and completed additional studies in Vienna as the recipient of a travel grant to Austria. In 2006, she served on the faculty of Louisiana State University and served as interim principal harp in the Louisiana Philharmonic.

Kate Rogers

Kate has been performing in the Washington, D.C. area for over 15 years. She played for her first wedding at the age of twelve, and has since performed at hundreds of weddings and special events. While studying in Philadelphia at the Curtis Institute of Music, she was the harpist for the Four Seasons Hotel's afternoon tea; a position that greatly increased her repertoire of popular tunes. Currently, she is the principal harpist with the Fairfax Symphony and has performed with the National Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Richmond Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony. Kate has also been seen on every stage at the Kennedy Center and at venues such as Constitution Hall, The Capitol, The National Gallery of Art, Wolf Trap and Strathmore.

Wendy Willis

Wendy received her Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music studying under Alice Chalifoux, former Principal Harpist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Wendy also attended the Cleveland Institute of Music as an Artist Diploma student. She participated in the National Orchestra Institute of Maryland, Eastern Music Festival and Interlochen Music Camp. Wendy has performed as a freelance musician with the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony, Washington Opera Company, and numerous other ensembles across the east coast.

Beth Mailand

From 1986 to 2006, Beth served as Principal Harpist with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC. She has performed as soloist with the U.S. Army Concert Band, the U.S. Army Orchestra, and for numerous State Dinners at the White House and the State Department. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts, a Master of Music Degree from Florida State University, with additional studies at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute.