Principal Harp
The Susan Bright and Larry Stevenson Chair
Harpist Haley Rhodeside is a versatile musician who serves as the Principal Harp of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. As an orchestral harpist in demand, Ms. Rhodeside has performed with renowned ensembles including the Royal Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and the Charleston Symphony. Previously, she held the position of Principal Harp with the Annapolis Symphony.
Ms. Rhodeside is at home in many settings outside the orchestral sphere as well. She especially enjoys playing chamber music, most significantly as one half of the duo Project Alunir with clarinetist Seok Hee Jang. Other chamber ensembles she has performed with include Astralis Chamber Ensemble, Harvest Arts, Cantata Profana and EPIC Chamber Music, where she has twice been a featured guest artist. A distinguished soloist, Ms. Rhodeside has earned numerous accolades, including first prize at the Young Artists Harp Competition and recognition as a prizewinner in the American Harp Society’s national competition. She has performed as a soloist with her home orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, as well as the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Miami Music Festival, and the Space Coast Symphony. Her exceptional artistry was further recognized with the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from Indiana University.
A dedicated educator, Ms. Rhodeside has served as the harp professor at the University of Central Florida and Colorado College. She maintains an active private studio, working to cultivate each student’s potential. She has also been deeply involved in outreach initiatives, bringing music to diverse audiences through programs like HarpSTART, the USA International Harp Competition’s educational outreach, and MusicMDs, a group dedicated to sharing live music with hospital patients.
Ms. Rhodeside has degrees in harp performance from Yale and Indiana University, and her major teachers were Dr. June Han, Susann McDonald, and Jan Jennings. She began playing the harp at the age of six, after politely refusing her parents’ offer to provide her with piano lessons and informing them of her instrument of choice. However, it is not her only passion: outside of degrees in music, Ms. Rhodeside also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She studied math concurrently with music at Indiana University, following an honors track and graduating magna cum laude. While she did not choose to continue her formal education in the subject, she is fascinated by the deep and beautiful connections between math and music. Outside of her musical career, she enjoys tea, sewing, running, and spending time with her cats.