Astrid Walschot - Stapp
Concert Harpist
Local Experience
Frederick, Maryland Harpist Astrid Walschot-Stapp has over 15 years experience performing music at weddings and special events in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D. C., and Europe. Ms. Walschot-Stapp performs regularly at such venues such as the Cosmos Club in Washington, The Willard and Mayflower Hotels, The Ritz Carlton, The Congressional Country Club, Ceresville Mansion in Frederick, Ostertag Vistas, The Delaplaine Arts Center, and Old South Mountain Inn, among many many others.
Education and Teaching
Born in Maastricht, Holland Maryland harpist Astrid Walschot-Stapp began studying the harp at age nine with Katja Noorman. She studied at the Maastricht Conservatory with Teresia Rieu where she received a Docerend Musicus (Harp Performance and Pedagogy, 1992) and an Uitvoerend Musicus (Artist Diploma, 1994). Astrid went on to study with Francois Bartholome at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels and with Marisa Robles at the Royal College of Music in London. Following her studies in London, she received the Prince Bernhard Fund Prize to study harp with Susan McDonald at Indiana University. Mrs. Walschot - Stapp received a Performer Diploma from Indiana University in 1996.
Astrid delights in her student’s accomplishments. They have been members of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra, Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra, and The American Youth Harp Ensemble. They have performed at the White House, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Strathmore Hall. Some of her students have gone on to pursue careers in music at schools and Festivals such as Tanglewood, Indiana University, The Eastman School of Music, Boston University, Duke, and the Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysbury College. Astrid has also worked with students who have dyslexia and learning disabilities. Mrs. Walschot-Stapp co-founded the MCYO Harp Ensemble with Olivia Gutoff at Strathmore Hall and conducted it from 2001-2009. Astrid has held teaching positions at the Baltimore School of the Arts, The Washington Conservatory of Music, and the Sunderman Conservatory of Music. Astrid currently conducts the Frederick Harp Ensemble. She maintains a private studio at the Frederick String Initiative in Frederick, Maryland.
Performing Career
Astrid has an extensive orchestral career. In March 2003 Maestro Yuri Temirkanov selected her to be the acting principal harpist of the Baltimore Symphony during his tenure. This included several performances at Carnegie Hall. In addition, she has performed with the National Symphony, National Philharmonic, Washington Opera, Maryland Lyric Opera, Baltimore Opera, National Gallery Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Limburg Symphony, and Opera Royal de Wallonie. As a harp soloist, Astrid has performed in recital at such venues as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, National Gallery of Art, Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, and the Dutch and Finnish Embassies in Washington D. C. Mrs. Walschot-Stapp has performed chamber music with other musicians in numerous recitals in Europe and North America with such groups as the Orlando String Quartet, Kennedy Center Theater Chamber Players, The Left Bank Concert Society, the Fessenden Ensemble and Skya.
Notable Conductors, Performers, and Composers
Astrid has worked with some of the world's most respected conductors and musicians, including Yuri Termirkanov, Mario Venzago, Leonard Slatkin, Kurt Masur, James Judd, Jean Pascal Tortelier, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Jeffrey Tate, Marin Alsop, Jack Everly, and Erich Kunzel . She has performed in concert with leading musicians such as, Yo-Yo Ma, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras , Kiri Te Kanawa, Joshua Bell, Julia Fisher, Lang Lang, Denyce Graves, Andre Rieu, Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman and Barry Manilow.
Astrid has been active in popularizing pieces by contemporary composers. The pieces “Astre”, “Sagitaure”, and the harp concerto "Tanghetto" were written for her by Jean Sevriens. Several pieces were written for her daughter Eliana. These include "Lullaby for Eliana" and "Adagietto" by J. Sevriens, "Lullabies for Eliana" by Artem Nyzhnyk, and "Eliana" by Meg Robinson. She recently released a CD "Out of the Silence" with original compositions that she composed herself. She also played the composition "Eliana" for the soundtrack of the new 2014 movie "The Harpist".
"Astrid Walschot-Stapp is most definitely one of the most outstanding harpists I ever worked with. Her playing combines virtuosity with sensitivity in an inimitable way. Therefore, I composed several harp pieces especially for her."
Jean Sevriens - Composer