Cindy Emory
Biography
Cindy Emory has been Principal Harpist with the KSO since 2002. Cindy also serves as Principal Harp with the Knoxville Opera, the Oak Ridge Symphony, the Appalachian Ballet Orchestra, and the Symphony of the Mountains. She plays her harp with countless churches, choirs, colleges and universities, and performs recital programs for many interested groups.
Cindy teaches both the pedal and non-pedal harp at KnoxHarp Studio (knoxharp.com; [email protected]), instructing and encouraging students of all ages on harps of all sizes. Her own teachers were Alice Chalifoux, Eileen Mason and Eleanor England Hoadley. She has been coached by Judy Loman and Yolanda Kondonassis. In 1994, Cindy was one of only 2 US citizens to compete in the prestigious International Harp Contest in Jerusalem, Israel. Cindy received her Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University.
As a member of the American Harp Society, Cindy was active in the Baltimore (Charm City) Chapter from its inception in the early 1990s to 2005. As chapter President (2002-2005), she helped organize and present “Harpfest,” a multi-state event featuring world-renown recitalists, educational programs, and harp related seminars. When she is not playing her harp, Cindy likes to read, cook, travel, be outdoors, and keep in touch with her 3 grown children and her 8 siblings.