About
Johanna Wienholts is a harpist and educator known for her enthusiasm about the harp and all the versatility the instrument offers. She is currently on the string faculty at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Johanna is Principal Harpist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Madison Opera and is often featured on Wisconsin Public Radio.
Johanna holds a bachelor's degree in classical harp performance from University of Toronto and a graduate degree in performance from Manhattan School of Music. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy where she studied with Joan Holland, professor of harp at University of Michigan. Johanna studied in Toronto with the renowned Judy Loman, one of the last pupils of Carlos Salzedo, a founder of the modern harp technique.
Before moving to Wisconsin in 2017, Johanna was a freelance harpist in New York City and Toronto and has had opportunities to travel as a soloist all over the United States and Canada. She is an avid performer of both the standard symphonic repertoire as well as contemporary music, having played with numerous contemporary ensembles in New York. She has recorded for musical artists of many genres and has been featured on hip-hop, pop, and folk albums. Johanna recently completed a transcription and recording project with harpist Angelica Hairston of Challenge the Stats and Diné composer, Connor Chee.
When Johanna isn’t behind a harp, you can find her sewing funky clothes, painting, cooking (experimentally of course), renovating her fixer-upper, or outside in the vegetable garden with her husband, Jeremy and rescue dog, Laney.
