Performer Biography

Grace Roepke, harp

Grace Roepke has earned distinction as a successful solo performer and competitor in theUnited States and abroad. She has received numerous honors, such as Grand Prize and FirstPrize at the Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition, making her the firstand only harpist to do so in the competition’s 60-year history; First Prize in the ClevelandInstitute of Music Concerto Competition; and Grand Finalist in the 2021 Dutch Harp FestivalWorld Harp Competition, representing the United States as the only finalist currently residing inNorth America.

Equally at home as an orchestral musician, Ms. Roepke has served as guest principal harp withthe Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. She has spentsummers as a fellowship recipient at the Texas Music Festival and Round Top Festival Institute,a full-tuition scholarship recipient at the Eastern Music Festival, and an Emerson Scholar at theInterlochen Summer Arts Camp. Her extensive orchestral experience has allowed her to workwith notable conductors including Hans Graf, Joann Falletta, and Jahja Ling. As a chambermusician, Ms. Roepke enjoys collaborating in traditional and contemporary ensembles,including the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra as guest principal harpist and the ClevelandInstitute of Music New Music Ensemble.

In addition to her performance career, Ms. Roepke is an avid music educator and autismadvocate. Her passion for autism advocacy has led to autism-inspired commissions by YoavSadeh and is working to develop sensory friendly music concerts that are free and open to thepublic. Ms. Roepke maintains a private studio and is a Suzuki certified teacher, having trainedin the Suzuki method herself as a young student.

Currently pursuing her master’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ms. Roepke studies with world-renowned solo artist Yolanda Kondonassis. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Harp Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2019 with academic honors; upon graduation, she received the Alice Chalifoux Prize in Harp and the Cleveland Institute of Music Merit Award. Ms. Roepke is a native of Chanhassen, Minnesota, where she studied with Phala Tracy and Kathy Kienzle.