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Kirsten is not only one of the greatest virtuoso harpists in the world, but also one of the most versatile performers of this complex musical instrument
— El Comercio, Lima, Peru
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ABout

 
 

KIRSTEN AGRESTA COPELY is a GRAMMY® Award Nominated, international award-winning harpist and composer based in New York City. Her prolific career has taken her throughout the United States, Europe, South America, Israel, Japan, and the South Pacific; she has performed for heads of state, in blockbuster movie soundtracks, alongside Billboard 100 artists, on late night television, and on some of the most recognized arena stages in the world. Kirsten’s most recent album, Aquamarine was nominated in the 2024 GRAMMY® Awards for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album.

Steeped in rigorous classical training, Copely’s performance career began at an early age: by fourteen, she performed a full solo tour of the British Isles, and continued to gain attention in the classical world by winning Bronze Medal in the 1st USA International Harp Competition. She debuted as concerto soloist at Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium, and also presented three separate solo recitals at Weill Concert Hall. In 2019, Kirsten performed the World Premiere of Dinos Constantinides’ Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra at Lincoln Center David Geffen Hall. Her long tenure of worldwide classical performances include audiences in Dublin, Peru, Prague, and Amsterdam, among others.

 

Following a feature in PEOPLE Magazine’s “Up & Coming” column, her performances grew increasingly illustrious, culminating in a performance with Beyoncé at the Second Official White House State Dinner for President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Mexican President Felipe Calderón. Recent performance highlights include the 2023 MET Gala, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and the Billboard Music Awards with Florence + The Machine. Other notable shows include Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary at Carnegie Hall, Christmas at the MET with Kristin Chenoweth, a benefit concert with Jay Z at Carnegie Hall, and Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come at Radio City Music Hall, which aired on NBC.

 

Copely’s charismatic, telegenic presence on stage has also allowed her to share a prominent spotlight in a variety of pop-culture settings: she has performed on a full slate of late night and morning show television programming, including Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, and The Today Show. Performing live, she has played a gamut of the world’s biggest stages, from Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl to Live8 and Lollapalooza alongside Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Enya, Michael Bublé, k.d. Lang, Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, The Who, Adam Levine, John Legend, and The Roots.

In the recording studio, Kirsten has also become the industry’s go-to harpist: recent album features include Kitt Wakeley’s Grammy® award winning album, “An Adoption Story” (Best Classical Compendium.) Other notable collaborations include Kacey Musgraves, Kristin Chenoweth, a feature on Erykah Badu’s album: New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (“Incense”) and recordings with The Mavericks, Evanescence, Lionel Richie, Alison Krauss, Bonobo, Johnny Mathis, Mandy Barnett, Norwegian soprano Sissel, and Jamie Lidell. Furthermore, she can be heard on numerous video game, TV and movie soundtracks, including Iron Mike (Hulu), That Girl Lay Lay (Nickelodeon), Boom Boom (Apple TV+), Outlander, Sex and the City 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, The Tempest, Disney’s The Music of Pixar Live!, My Little Pony: The Movie and the JD Salinger biopic Rebel in the Rye

As a composer, her discography includes three solo performance albums: the GRAMMY® Nominated Aquamarine (2023), Around The Sun (2020), and a classical collection, Dream World (2001). Copely’s album Aquamarine received glowing praise: “This unique voyage into the deep blue sea feels significant, timeless, and heartfelt” (New Age Music Guide), “a brilliant music tribute” (Classical Crossover Magazine) and “a spirit caressing, free-flowing straight through immersion” (The JW Vibe). Her albums have also won the Silver Medal in the Global Music Awards, Outstanding New Age Performance in the 2023 Grand Prix Music Awards (New Age Music Planet), and Listeners’ Choice in the New Age Music Guide Top 10 Albums of 2020. Other notable awards include: LIT Talent Platinum Award, 1st Raighes Factory Awards (Beloved Contemporary Instrumental) and One World Music Awards (Best Acoustic Single). Her music has been described as “spacious and lush, deep and intense” (Christopher Tin, Grammy© Award-Winning Composer) and is enjoyed by millions of listeners across the globe seeking peace and relaxation.

Kirsten Agresta Copely served as the Associate Professor of Harp at Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music from 2017-2021. She expresses deep gratitude to her pedagogues, Nancy Allen and Susann McDonald, the latter of whom mentored her for over a decade. She holds degrees from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (B.M. & M.M.), where she was awarded the Performer’s Certificate for outstanding musical performance. Ms. Copely is on the World Harp Congress Board of Directors, a Voting Member of The Recording Academy (NARAS), and a member of ASCAP. 

 

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SEtting the tone for beautiful memories

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Award Winning Harpist in New York City

 
 

With vast experience performing for hundreds of metro New York/ East Coast weddings, private parties, corporate events and galas, Kirsten will create elevated and distinct music selections to create the perfect ambiance for your event.

 

Kirsten performs acoustically or amplified with solo harp, a duo, trio, or other ensembles including violin, cello, flute or voice. Classically trained, yet extremely versatile, Kirsten offers a wide variety of genres - everything from Bach to The Beatles and Beyoncé! Feel free to request a song.

 

Kirsten has performed for celebrity weddings such as Carmelo Anthony & La La Vasquez, The Today Show Throws A Wedding, Teresa Giudice & Luis Ruelas (Real Housewives of New Jersey), dignitaries and notable guests including President Bill Clinton, and has been a featured performer at the US Open Tennis Championships, The MET Gala, events sponsored by Vogue, Victoria's Secret, Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Kiki di Montparnasse, Camilla, and many more.

 

I highly recommend booking Kirsten without any hesitation. She exuded utmost professionalism throughout our interaction and was incredibly kind and patient. Her talent is truly exceptional. Adding her as the harpist was the best decision.
— M. Celestin
Thank you for playing so beautifully at our bridal shower celebration...for adding so much grace and charm, and for setting the tone for an uplifting & wonderful celebration to follow.
— S. Weiss (Ascent Lounge, New York City)
Kirsten is a fantastic musician. Extremely versatile, with a very open mind, I’ve had the privilege to work with her on stage (Jay-Z) as well as in the studio (Erykah Badu). She’s an absolute pleasure to work with!
— James Poyser, The Roots (The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon)

 

2024 PERFORMANCES


Camilla -
Grand Opening

Saturday, March 16th, 1-4pm - The Mall at Short Hills, Millburn, NJ

no admission fee

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Connecticut Chapter of the AHS (American Harp Society) - Aquamarine Live

Sunday, March 24th, 3:30pm - Neighborhood Music School, 100 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Tickets are $21.50 for adults, $12.50 for children and seniors

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The Notebook

Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 West 45th St., New York, NY

Tuesday, March 26th, 7pm

Friday, March 29th, 8pm

Thursday, April 4th, 7pm

Friday, April 5th, 8pm

Saturday, April 6th, 2pm, 8pm

Saturday, April 13th, 2pm, 8pm

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NYIT de Seversky Mansion - Harp/Violin Duo

Thursday, March 28th, 5:30pm

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North Fork Audubon Society - Aquamarine Live

Sunday, August 18th, 1pm - Inlet Pond County Park, Greenport, NY

no admission fee

 
 
This unique voyage into the deep blue sea feels significant, timeless, and heartfelt.
— New Age Music Guide
Aquamarine - GRAMMY® Nominated
 
 
“Kirsten’s Aquamarine is liquid sunshine. It exists in such an exquisite space, the space of her mind and imagination, but it never dominates, only suggests what the world might look like through the eyes of natural compassion.”
— Daniel Tashian, Grammy© Award-Winning Producer
 

physical CD

$9.99

Digital Download

$8.99

autographed CD

$12.99

 
“Kirsten’s Aquamarine is...a spirit caressing, free-flowing straight through immersion from the hypnotic, gently strummed ambient title track through the spacious and haunting, chamber-tinged Into the Mist, which conveys a profound sense of wonder and mystery ~ and by extension, gratitude.”
— Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe

For Media Inquiries: April Thibeault, AMT PR | 917.355.8359 | april@amtpublicrelations.com

 

Click through the booklet below for the story behind the music.