Ina Zdorovetchi

G.D., New England Conservatory; M.M., Boston University; B.M.(Summa Cum Laude), Boston Conservatory. Studies with Ann Hobson Pilot, Cynthia Price-Glynn, Ion Ivan-Roncea. Recordings on National Public Radio (USA), WGBH Boston, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Modern Orchestra Project private labels. President, American Harp Society, Boston Chapter.

Named “the Harp Whisperer” by the Savannah Morning News, Ina Zdorovetchi has established a reputation as one of the leading harpists of her generation. Her fast-growing career has brought her to many of the world’s greatest halls, including Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Symphony Hall.

She is the first prize winner of Bucharest International Harp Competition and a winner of Boston University Soloists' Competition and Concerto Competition at the Bucharest National University of Music. Most recently, she received second prize at Paris International Harp Competition, Cité des Arts, 2005, becoming the first Moldavian harpist to win such a coveted prize at an international contest and was one of the six semifinalists at the 16th International Harp Contest in Israel. Additional honors include the Boston University Departmental Award for outstanding achievement in Harp Performance, Henry Cabot Award from the Boston Symphony Orchestra for extraordinary commitment of talent, a Soros Foundation Arts Grant (Moldova), as well as Maria Bieshu and Antonina Luchinsky talent recognition scholarships.

Highlights of her career include a Carnegie Hall debut in "Zankel Hall Perspectives Series", performing Berio’s Folk Songs and the world-premiere of Osvaldo Golijov's "Ayre", alongside soprano Dawn Upshaw. Following her success in the Paris International Harp Competition, she was featured on Live from Studio One, WGBH Boston, where she talks about her musical background and experience in an hour long interview and performance of solo works for harp. As a guest artist at the 2005 Savannah Music Festival, her performance of Ravel‘s Introduction and Allegro was called “the absolute highlight” of the concert by the Savannah Morning News. Solo appearances include concertos with Moldova National Radio and Symphony Orchestras, as well as Boston University and Bucharest National University of Music Symphony Orchestras

Twice a Tanglewood Music Center fellow, Ina can be heard on Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Seiji Ozawa Hall 10th Anniversary Celebration CD, presenting an exclusive list of the most remarkable live-performances that have taken place in the hall over ten years and including artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Emmanuel Ax, the Emerson and Juilliard String Quartets, Gidon Kremer. She can also be heard on numerous recordings released by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, with which she plays as principal harpist since 2004.

An avid chamber musician, Ina is a founding member of Nobis Trio (flute, viola and harp), winner of NEC Honors Ensemble Competition and Arpello Duo, a cello and harp ensemble, promoting the writing and commissioning of new works for this rare group setting. Additional chamber music engagements include collaborations with soprano Dawn Upshaw, members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, Cincinnati Symphony and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

As an orchestra harpist, she was one of the four harpists to play with the Boston Symphony at Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall in the James Levine Gala, inaugurating the conductor’s directorship with the orchestra. Playing as principal harpist with Opera Boston and Boston Modern Orchestra Project, she is a substitute with Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops and Boston Ballet and has worked with Maestros Seiji Ozawa, James Levine, Kurt Masur, Michael Tilson Thomas, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Ingo Metzmacher, James Conlon, John Williams and Keith Lockhart.

Zdorovetchi is very active in the contemporary music scene of Boston, performing with the Fromm Foundation Players at Harvard, BMOP’s Club Concerts, Collage New Music, Cantata Singers and ALEA III and working with many composers, including Elliott Carter, Gunther Schuller, Harrison Birtwistle, Bernard Rands and Osvaldo Golijov. Dedicated to promoting the writing of new works for harp, Ina has given presentations and demonstration classes on the harp and its characteristics. She is open to questions and discussions from composers interested in learning more about the harp and harp writing.

Version: April 2007