BIO

Described by critics as an artist possessing “poise under pressure", Anna Dunlap’s music making continues to inspire listeners with her craft, grace, and power.

Principal harpist with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (AL) and winner of the 2016 American Harp Society’s Grandjany Memorial Competition, Anna has also been the recipient of the Robert Wayne Barlow Excellence in Harp Performance Award at the Eastman School of Music. Selected as the 2015 Eastman harp studio Concerto Competition winner, she was a second laureate of the United States Navy Band Concerto Competition, a winner of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music harp department Concerto Competition in 2019, and runner-up of the 2018 Anne Adams Awards Competition. As a recipient of the Performer's Certificate at Eastman, Anna was featured on Rochester, NY's classical music station WXXI's Backstage Pass in February 2018. Participating in the inaugural season of the Mostly Modern Festival held in Saratoga Springs, NY in 2018, Anna performed with the American Modern Orchestra directed by Alan Pierson and Chris Rountree. She has also previously attended Orford Musique (Canada) where she participated in masterclasses, lessons, and coachings with harpist and composer, Caroline Lizotte in addition to working with leading contemporary conductor Veronique Lacroix on a world premiere performance in 2019 through the Contemporary Music Workshop.

​Currently studying at the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music with Dr. Gillian Benet Sella, Anna graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Harp Performance with highest distinction and in May of 2020 from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Master's Degree in Harp Performance. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, a National Music Honors Society, and Sigma Alpha Iota, a women's music fraternity.  Anna made her solo debut at the Eastman Theater with Kevin Kaska’s Concerto for Harp and has also performed with the Bay Atlantic Symphony, Dave Rivello Ensemble, CCM Chamber Orchestra, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Musica Nova, Repertory Singers, OSSIA New Music Ensemble, and the Empire Film Music Ensemble. She’s performed with Charles Pillow in his "Charlie Parker with Strings" Concert with Dave Rivello, a performance of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique under the direction of Louis Langree with the CCM Philharmonia, and with Dave Liebman and the Eastman Studio Orchestra under the direction of Bill Dobbins. Previous activities have taken her to the Aspen Music Festival and School, Young Artists Harp Seminar, and the Saratoga Harp Colony, and to masterclass performances for Courtney Hershey Bress, Alice Giles, Susan Jolles, Yolanda Kondonassis, Douglas Rioth, Emily Levin, and Ina Zdorovetchi.