Elaine Christy

Elaine Christy^[2] is an American harpist. She has performed at high-profile concert halls including Steinway Hall,^[2] Carnegie's Weill Hall,^[2] and with the CBS Orchestra on the television show Late Show with David Letterman.^[2] In 2012, she is an instructor of harp at Princeton University.

Elaine Christy
Nationality	American
Alma mater	William Penn University Manhattan School of Music[1]
Occupation	Professor[2]
Employer	Princeton University[2][3]
Awards	National harp competition,[2][4] (American Harp Society) Ruth Lorraine Close[2][4] (won twice) Distinguished Career Award 1998 from William Penn University Artists International,[5] (as part of Venus Trio)
Website	elainechristy.com

Career

Beginnings

Christy attended William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.^[6] During these years, she studied with notable harpists including Margaret Ling, Jane Weidensaul, and Kathleen Bride.^[1] She worked as an elementary school teacher while continuing her education and training in Kansas. In 1981, she was a finalist in the professional division of the American Harp Society National Competition, and won a Lorraine Close Award during the contest.^[6] In 1984, she was placed first in the American Harp Society National Competition,^[4][7][8][9] and won three top awards at this competition in 1984.^[10] In addition, she won the Ruth Lorraine Close award a second time.^[4]

She earned a Ph.D. from the Manhattan School of Music.^[2] Christy was an instructor of harp at the University of Kansas^[5] and Kansas State University.^[2][5] Since 2001, she has taught harp at Princeton University.^[2][3] Her publications about harp and playing methodology have been cited by other scholars.^[11]

Performances and teaching

Christy has performed as a soloist in numerous venues. She performed at the World Harp Congress in Seattle-Tacoma in 1999 and in Geneva, Switzerland in 2002. She traveled to Israel to premier a work sponsored by Zamir Bavel.^[10] She has given numerous concerts and recitals in the New York metropolitan area,^{[12][13][14][15][16]} including at the Unitarian Church in Summit in New Jersey.^[17] In addition, she has performed with numerous musical artists, including violists Marjorie Selden^[18] and Jessica Thompson,^[17] and with numerous flautists including Lucian Rinando, Jill Crawford^[18][19] and Judith Pearce.^[17][20] She was a founding member of the Venus Trio which was a winner of the Artists International Competition.^[5] She has performed with the North Jersey Harp Ensemble including Kimberly DeRosa, Robbin Gordon-Cartier, Elizabeth Khoury, Diane Michaels and Kelly Rafferty.^[21] She recorded at least two music CDs. Reviewer Carol Swanson described her music as "mesmerizing".^[22] She plays with an ensemble of Princeton faculty called the Richardson Chamber Players.

Christy has served on the board of the American Harp Society. In addition, as a professor of harp, she has been published in the American Harp Journal and the World Harp Congress Review. She has taught numerous students, including harpist Allison Cheung.

Recordings

• Celestial Sounds of Christmas, Twinz Records^[20]
• Enchanted Love, with Patricia Davila (flute)