Biography
photo credit Billy Elkins
Italian born Giuseppina Ciarla is a classical musician and a groundbreaking crossover performer combining her artistry of voice and harp in an eclectic mélange ranging from jazz to sophisticated pop. Her authentic approach is rooted in classical training with vision to see new possibilities for popular classics as well as original compositions. Her debut solo album “A Ticket Home” - showcasing her original compositions and arrangements for harp and voice was recorded during the 2020 pandemic. Her ability to navigate between diverse music genres through her eclectic arrangements and compositions is a refreshing take on cross over artistry. From classical to jazz, world music and sophisticated pop, Miss Ciarla's commitment to creating expressive music makes her versatile not only as a solo artist but in orchestra and chamber music settings.
Principal harpist with the Sarasota Opera, Giuseppina Ciarla has performed with world class conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Victor DeRenzi, Daniel Oren, John Neschling, Stefan Anton Reck, Roberto Abbado, and Larry Rachleff, to name a few. Other collaborations included composer Terry Riley, Italian film director and actor Nanni Moretti, the performance artist Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, bandoneon virtuoso Daniel Binelli and experimental composer Anthony Braxton.
Miss Ciarla’s chamber music activities include performances with artists of international acclaim including flutists Carol Wincenc and Tara Helen O’Connor; violinist Benny Kim; clarinetist Eddie Daniels and pianist/composer Marc Neikrug at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival with whom she recorded “Rain Spell” by Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. During her tenure as Principal harpist with the Petruzzelli Opera Theatre in her native Bari, Italy - she performed with the Bolshoi Ballet and appeared at Lincoln Center in New York and the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC. Additional performances included appearances with the Prague Symphony, Orchestra of Slovacchia, Festival Pucciniano di Torre del Lago, the Smithsonian Institute’s Axelrod String Quartet, Santa Fe Pro Musica, the International Jazz and Pop Harp Festival in Monterey, California and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy as teaching assistant to Carrol McLaughlin.
During the 2020 pandemic Miss Ciarla has collaborated with Violipiano Music in live stream concerts and video projects for the Italian Institutes of Culture in Istanbul, Beirut, Buenos Aires and performed for “Culture Saves” in Washington, DC.
Her solo debut album A Ticket Home has been presented at the prestigious Officina Pasolini in Rome on September 17, 2021 and has received since critical acclaim.
In addition to performing, Miss Ciarla is a passionate teacher inspiring students of all ages in her harp studio in Sarasota. She is certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Miss Ciarla holds degrees from the Conservatorio Lorenzo Perosi in Italy and a Bachelor and Master of Music in harp performance from the University of Arizona. She has recorded for Bongiovanni and Koch record labels.
Principal harpist with the Sarasota Opera, Giuseppina Ciarla has performed with world class conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Victor DeRenzi, Daniel Oren, John Neschling, Stefan Anton Reck, Roberto Abbado, and Larry Rachleff, to name a few. Other collaborations included composer Terry Riley, Italian film director and actor Nanni Moretti, the performance artist Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, bandoneon virtuoso Daniel Binelli and experimental composer Anthony Braxton.
Miss Ciarla’s chamber music activities include performances with artists of international acclaim including flutists Carol Wincenc and Tara Helen O’Connor; violinist Benny Kim; clarinetist Eddie Daniels and pianist/composer Marc Neikrug at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival with whom she recorded “Rain Spell” by Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. During her tenure as Principal harpist with the Petruzzelli Opera Theatre in her native Bari, Italy - she performed with the Bolshoi Ballet and appeared at Lincoln Center in New York and the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC. Additional performances included appearances with the Prague Symphony, Orchestra of Slovacchia, Festival Pucciniano di Torre del Lago, the Smithsonian Institute’s Axelrod String Quartet, Santa Fe Pro Musica, the International Jazz and Pop Harp Festival in Monterey, California and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy as teaching assistant to Carrol McLaughlin.
During the 2020 pandemic Miss Ciarla has collaborated with Violipiano Music in live stream concerts and video projects for the Italian Institutes of Culture in Istanbul, Beirut, Buenos Aires and performed for “Culture Saves” in Washington, DC.
Her solo debut album A Ticket Home has been presented at the prestigious Officina Pasolini in Rome on September 17, 2021 and has received since critical acclaim.
In addition to performing, Miss Ciarla is a passionate teacher inspiring students of all ages in her harp studio in Sarasota. She is certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Miss Ciarla holds degrees from the Conservatorio Lorenzo Perosi in Italy and a Bachelor and Master of Music in harp performance from the University of Arizona. She has recorded for Bongiovanni and Koch record labels.
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© Giuseppina Ciarla, 2021