Grammy-nominated harpist to visit WHHS

Everyday+life+as+a+professional+musician+changes+day+to+day.+At+the+beginning+of+the+week%2C+Younger+teaches+at+NYU%2C+where+she+is+the+head+of+the+art+department.+From+there%2C+she+teaches+at+the+New+School+for+Jazz+and+Contemporary+Music.+But+Younger%E2%80%99s+week+does+not+stop+there.+%E2%80%9CI+usually+fly+somewhere+on+Thursday+to+go+perform%2C%E2%80%9D+Younger+said.+%E2%80%9CIm+in+the+middle+of+promoting+an+album+right+now+thats+about+to+come+out%2C+so+what+Im+doing+is%2C+with+my+trio%2C+playing+some+music+from+the+new+record.%E2%80%9D

Nazret Degaulle

Everyday life as a professional musician changes day to day. At the beginning of the week, Younger teaches at NYU, where she is the head of the art department. From there, she teaches at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. But Younger’s week does not stop there. “I usually fly somewhere on Thursday to go perform,” Younger said. “I’m in the middle of promoting an album right now that’s about to come out, so what I’m doing is, with my trio, playing some music from the new record.”

Grammy-nominated harpist, Brandee Younger, will perform in the WHHS Schott Recital Hall, in room 2852, on March 2, during sixth and seventh bell.

Younger made history at the 2022 Grammy awards when she became the first black female solo artist nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category for her song “Beautiful is Black” from her major label debut album, Somewhere Different. Along with this accomplishment, Younger has collaborated with artists including Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, John Legend and Lauryn Hill.

Apart from her life as a critically acclaimed musician, Younger is also active in the education field. She is on the faculty at New York University (NYU) and The New School College of Performing Arts in New York City.

While Younger is in Cincinnati, along with visiting WHHS, she will give a concert at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) on March 2, give a lecture and masterclass at SCPA on March 3, and host a masterclass at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) on March 4. All of these performances will be free and open to the public.

Throughout her career, Younger has gained recognition worldwide for her presence as a high-achieving, versatile harpist. She often performs in jazz, classical and hip hop, mixing both traditional and contemporary forms of music.

“No harpist thus far has been more capable of combining all of the modern harp traditions — from Salzedo, through Dorothy Ashby, through Alice Coltrane — with such strength, grace and commitment,” New York Times writer, Nate Chinen, wrote.