Caroline Léonardelli (born March 10, 1965) is a French-Canadian concert

harpist The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual string (music), strings running at an angle to its sound board (music), soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various way ...

. Born in France, she graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris (

Paris Conservatory The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

) at age of 18 and came to Canada to study at

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...

where she completed an Artist Diploma. Based in Canada's

National Capital Region A capital region, also called a capital district or capital territory, is a region or district surrounding a capital city. It is not always the official term for the region, but may sometimes be used as an informal synonym. Capital regions can exis ...

, she performs for CBC national broadcasts and for

Radio Canada The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government ...

. Her recordings are featured by Apple Music in the top ten playlist of master harp recordings and her recording label is distributed worldwide by NAXOS. She is the Principal Harpist with the Ottawa Symphony and Orchestre symphonique de Gatineau.

Life and career

Training and education

Leonardelli was born in Navarrenx, France began to study the classical harp in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

at the age of seven at the Conservatoire de Pau in southwestern France. She also studied with

Lily Laskine Lily Laskine (31 August 1893 in Paris – 4 January 1988 in Paris) was one of the most prominent harpists of the twentieth century. Born Lily Aimée Laskine to Jewish parents in Paris, she studied at the Conservatoire de Paris with Alphonse Hassel ...

during this time. At 14, she was invited to study at the Conservatoire de Paris (

) in the class of Jacqueline Borot where she graduated with first prize in harp at age of 18. She continued her studies with

Judy Loman Judy Loman (born 3 November 1936) is a harpist and harp teacher, born and educated in the United States and active in Canada. She was the principal harp of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1959 until her retirement in 1991, and won a Juno aw ...

at the

Schulich School of Music The Schulich School of Music (also known as Schulich) is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located at 555, rue Sherbrooke Ouest (555, Sherbrooke Street West). The faculty was named after benef ...

where she completed an Artist Diploma.

Broadcasts and recordings

Leonardelli is a classical

who performs for CBC national broadcasts and for

. Her recordings include: ''Panache'' with mezzo-soprano

Julie Nesrallah Julie Nesrallah is a Canadian mezzo-soprano and radio host. Her past operatic roles include Isabella in ''L'italiana in Algeri'', the Composer in ''Ariadne auf Naxos'', Suzuki in ''Madama Butterfly'', Maddalena in ''Rigoletto'', Cherubino in ''The ...

, ''Impressionism'' by the Para Arpa harp duo, ''A Conte de Noel'', ''Musique de salons en Bretagne'' for

, and ''Ceremony of Carols'' by

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

, with the

Ottawa Board of Education The Ottawa Board of Education (OBE) was the public school board for Ottawa from 1970 to 1998. The board was created as part of a province-wide reorganization of the public education system. Previously, elementary schools had been supervised by th ...

Central Choirs under the direction of

Barbara Clark Barbara Lynne Clark (born September 24, 1958), later known by her married name Barbara Parolin, is a former competitive swimmer from Canada, who competed primarily in international freestyle events. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Q ...

. Leonardelli's solo recording El Dorado received a Juno nomination for Classical Album of the Year - Solo or Chamber Ensemble. The recording featured compositions by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich. Leonardelli's solo recording ''Impressions de France'' is featured by Apple Music in the top ten playlist of master harp recordings. Her artist-owned recording label is distributed worldwide by NAXOS. She has been described as a "World Class Harpist" in ''Harp Column Magazine'', and her live performances have been reviewed as "Brilliant" and "Outstanding". A review of her ''Impressions de France'' recording: stated that "What she brings or adds to the music at hand, to any piece she plays, is close to magical" and " e sees beyond the notes and recreates what the composer had in mind" Classical Music Sentinel.

Chamber music

She is a member of several chamber ensembles including a harp quartet with harpists Jennifer Swartz, Lori Gems and Caroline Lizotte, Para Arpa harp duo with Caroline Lizotte, and a harp/vocal duo with mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah. Caroline has performed in ensembles at numerous chamber festivals.

Choral work

Choral work is a passion for Leonardelli, who has performed a wide range of repertoire with numerous choral ensembles. The 2005 Evergreen Wishes CBC produced concert of the Ottawa Children's Choir and Leonardelli performing

John Rutter John Milford Rutter (born 24 September 1945) is an English composer, conductor, editor, arranger, and record producer, mainly of choral music. Biography Born on 24 September 1945 in London, the son of an industrial chemist and his wife, Rutte ...

's ''Dancing Day'' received a Gabriel Award.

Orchestral roles

Leonardelli is the Principal Harpist with the Ottawa Symphony and Orchestre symphonique de Gatineau. She has also performed with the Montreal Symphony, the Quebec Symphony, the

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony The Regional Municipality of Waterloo (Waterloo Region or Region of Waterloo) is a metropolitan area of Southern Ontario, Canada. It contains the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo (KWC or Tri-Cities), and the townships of North Dumfr ...

, the Orchestra London Canada,

Symphony Nova Scotia Symphony Nova Scotia is a Canadian orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary recital space is at the Dalhousie Arts Centre's Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. History Symphony Nova Scotia began in 1983 with 13 full-time musicians. ...

, and the Opera Lyra in Ottawa.

Teaching

Leonardelli teaches at her private studio of harp students, including her Lyra Angelica harp ensembles. Leonardelli was head of the harp ensemble program at the Ottawa Youth Orchestra for 20 years.

Discography

* ''Serenata - Italian Solo Harp'' - solo harp * ''Un Sospiro - Italian Art Songs'' - Leonardelli,

* ''Noel Nouvelet'' - Leonardelli,

and keyboardist Matthew Larkin * ''Impressions de France'' - solo harp * ''Legendes'' - harp and organ - Leonardelli, harp and Matthew Larkin, organ * ''El Dorado'' - solo harp with double bassist

Joel Quarrington Joel Quarrington (born January 15, 1955) is a Canadian double bass player, soloist and teacher. He is the former Principal Double Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. Career He was born in Toronto, Ontario, and began playing the double bass at ...

and the Penderecki String Quartet - nominated Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year - Solo or Chamber Ensemble * ''Panache'' - Voice and harp (with

, mezzo-soprano) * ''A Christmas Story'' (with Ottawa Bach Choir, directed by Dr. Lisette Canton) * ''Impressionisme Para Arpa'' Harp duo Leonardelli & Caroline Lizotte

Notes and references

External links

Harp Music Ottawa web site

Caroline Leonardelli web site

Facebook Musician site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonardelli, Caroline Living people Canadian harpists Canadian classical musicians 1965 births Women harpists 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century Canadian women musicians 21st-century classical musicians 21st-century Canadian women musicians People from Béarn Conservatoire de Paris alumni McGill University School of Music alumni French emigrants to Canada 20th-century Canadian musicians 21st-century Canadian musicians