About Katherine

Praised by the New York Times as “excellent,” Katherine Siochi is an internationally award-winning soloist and one of the leading orchestral harpists of her generation. She joined the San Francisco Symphony as principal harp in the 2023-24 season, appointed by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Having won an impressive number of auditions, Katherine previously held positions as principal harp of the Minnesota Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and Sarasota Orchestra. Katherine is the Gold Medalist of the 10th USA International Harp Competition, one of the world's most prestigious harp contests. Audiences worldwide have commended Katherine for her virtuosity as well as her poetic interpretations and innate sense of timing. In 2021 she released her debut album Nocturne on Lyon & Healy Records, in which she “displays an intuitive sense of musical line and phrase that takes the harp beyond its limits and more toward the world of piano and a wider realm of artistry and expression” (Harp Column Magazine).

As an orchestral musician Katherine appears regularly as guest principal harp with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and as an extra with the New York Philharmonic. Her sensitivity and finesse has captured the attention of numerous critics across the country. In a recent concert of Tchaikovsky ballet suites with CSO, her performance was lauded as “graceful and transporting” (Chicago Sun-Times), “subtly adding to tutti textures and contributing graceful cadenzas” (Chicago Classical Review), and “exquisitely played” (WTTW). Katherine has performed as a concerto soloist with the Kansas City Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Juilliard Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, and Indiana University Summer Philharmonic Orchestra. She has spent summers at various festivals including Colorado Music Festival, Classical Tahoe, Tanglewood Music Center, and Aspen Music Festival. She now serves on the harp faculty at Aspen Music Festival and School.

In addition to her international success, Katherine has received first prize in numerous other competitions, including the American String Teachers Association, Aspen Music Festival Harp Competition, Anne Adams Awards, and both the Advanced Division and Young Professional Division of the American Harp Society National Competition. While holding the position of American Harp Society Concert Artist from 2015-2017, Katherine embarked on a tour of 23 U.S. cities to present solo recitals and masterclasses. Appearances have also included solo concerts in Hong Kong, China, Israel, and at Lyon & Healy Hall in Chicago. Her performances have been featured on national radio programs: on Chicago’s WFMT, American Public Media's "Performance Today," New York Public Radio for WQXR's "Young Artist Showcase," and twice on NPR’s “From The Top.”

Katherine began her musical studies with the piano when she was 5 years old, and began learning the harp at age 9. She holds her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in harp performance from The Juilliard School, where she studied with New York Philharmonic principal harp Nancy Allen. While earning her master's, Katherine was a recipient of the distinguished Kovner Fellowship. In addition to the harp, Katherine studied secondary piano at Juilliard during her undergraduate years. Her background as a pianist contributes to her interest in transcribing piano works for the harp, as well as her unique approach to facility and voicing on the harp. Katherine’s transcriptions of Debussy and Chopin are available for purchase through Lyon & Healy Publications. In high demand as a teacher, Katherine gives private lessons, audition coachings, and masterclasses throughout the U.S. and online. Katherine grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, where she studied with Pamela Weest-Carrasco.