MICHAEL MAGANUCO

Harpist

​

As an orchestral harpist, I can be heard performing across the Midwest from Indiana's South Bend Symphony to Iowa's Dubuque Symphony. Before moving to Southwest Michigan in 2022, I spent 12 years building my career as a freelance musician in Chicago, where I still perform with Lakeview Orchestra, Lake Shore Symphony, Chicago Metropolitan Symphony, and DePaul Symphony. In 2022, I made my debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra as substitute principal harpist. From 2014 to 2020, as resident harpist of DePaul University, I performed full-time in the school’s orchestral, opera, and choral ensembles. I have also performed extensively with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a recurring guest from 2014 to 2019, where I’ve had the honor of working with such esteemed conductors as Riccardo Muti, Ken-David Masur, Nicholas Kraemer, and Sir Andrew Davis. A few of my career highlights include performing alongside the brilliant writer and comedian Jenny Slate; a concert with New World Symphony conducted by one of my favorite living composers, John Adams; and an incredibly formative summer as harp fellow at Tanglewood Music Center, where I performed under the baton of world-renowned conductors like Christoph von Dohnányi, Raphael Frühbeck de Burgos, Michael Tilson Thomas, Robert Spano, Christian Macelaru, and also premiered one of the last works composed by the great Elliot Carter, with him in attendance.

 

I have appeared as featured soloist in performances of W.A. Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major, William Grant Still’s Ennanga, and Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro. I can be heard on the 2012 Grammy-nominated recording of David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4 with Northwestern University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Mallory Thompson. As a historical harpist, I have performed continuo on Baroque triple harp for DePaul University’s productions of Claudio Monteverdi’s operas, L’Orfeo (1607) and L’incoronazione di Poppea (1642), as well as Francesco Cavalli’s L’Egisto (1643). I have also been a guest speaker at harp conferences across North America, including the 42nd American Harp Society National Conference in Atlanta 2016, the 11th World Harp Congress in Vancouver 2011, and the 2010 Boston Harp Festival.

 

I earned my dual bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Boston University in composition and harp performance and my master’s degree in harp performance from Northwestern University.

 

In addition to orchestral performances and other public appearances, I am available to play for private events in Western Michigan, Northwest Indiana, and Chicagoland. I gladly offer a bereavement discount on music for funerals, wakes, and memorial services.

 

To check my availability and booking rates please contact me here