Alyssa Katahara

Alyssa Katahara joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as Principal Harp in 2024. Before moving to Detroit, Katahara held the Principal Harp position with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (Canada) and Venice Symphony (Florida).

Additionally, she has performed alongside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and New World Symphony.

Her previous summer festival engagements include Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival and School, Orchestra of the Americas, Music Academy of the West, and National Repertory Orchestra. In addition to her work with the DSO, Katahara is a dedicated music educator and avid solo performer. She has served on faculty of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, Colburn School’s Jumpstart Program, and PRISMA festival. As the grand prize winner of the Hennings-Fischer Young Artist competition, Katahara appeared as a featured artist with the Burbank Philharmonic. She has also performed as a soloist with the Colburn Conservatory Orchestra, Pasadena Community Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and Interlochen Arts Camp Philharmonic. Katahara began her musical journey at age two playing the violin. These aspirations were soon diverted when the harp captivated her attention at the age of five. Katahara spent her final two years of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied with Joan Holland. She continued her education at the Colburn Conservatory of Music with JoAnn Turovsky. There, she earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in harp performance with an emphasis in pedagogy.