ORCHESTRA

Leila Jay Bishop is a harpist and composer pushing the boundaries of the harp's potential. They earned a BMA from Rutgers University under the guidance of André Tarantiles, and later, an MFA at the California Institute of the Arts under Alison Bjorkedal. In addition to these talented harpists, mentors and teachers Andrea Chieftain, Kimberly Rowe, Fran Duffy, Erica Duke-Kirkpatrick, and Nick Deyoe have provided invaluable guidance in shaping Bishop's artistic journey. A performer, composer, and improviser, Bishop draws from a rich classical heritage and infuses each performance with emotion and an unwavering commitment to creativity. With a keen interest in the harp as an experimental instrument, Bishop fearlessly explores extended techniques, preparations, electronic manipulations, and more, redefining the harp's sonic possibilities. Their strengths lie in their ability to infuse performances with genuine emotion, their openness to experimentation, a natural inclination for collaboration, and an unbridled spirit of creativity. Although biased, Bishop believes that every genre would sound great with harp and strives for a diverse curriculum vitae, evidenced by performances spanning solo recitals, chamber ensembles, orchestras, rock bands, jazz collectives, and performance art collaborations. Passionate about new music, Bishop continues to shape the future of harp through their unrelenting commitment to exploring uncharted musical territories. They can be found online @LeilaJayBishop and www.leilajaybishop.com.