Harpist Lily Primus is a passionate performer and educator currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio and Denver, Colorado. She is the Absolute First Prizewinner of the Third Edition of the Fanny Mendelssohn Competition, Winner of the Mildred Milligan Harp Scholarship Competition, and a three-time Prizewinner of the American Harp Society National Competition. Most recently, she was a finalist in the Korea International Harp Competition and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell – Ima Hogg Concerto Competition at the Texas Music Festival.
As an orchestral harpist, Lily has served as Guest Principal Harp for the Colorado Ballet, Annapolis Symphony, Fort Collins Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic and the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. She serves as Substitute Harp for the Houston Symphony and the New World Symphony. A passionate chamber musician, Lily is a member of the Colorado Chamber Players and has worked with the Monarch Chamber Players.
Lily was recently a member of Festival Napa Valley, performing with esteemed artists Joyce DiDonato and Tessa Lark. She has been a member of the Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen Music Festival, Texas Music Festival, and Round Top Festival Institute. She was also the inaugural recipient of the full tuition Siochi Scholarship to attend the Young Artists Harp Seminar.
As an educator, Lily works with students of all ages. She is a trained Suzuki Harp teacher, and teaches primarily out of the Suzuki method.
Lily is currently pursuing her Artist Diploma in Harp Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with Gillian Benet Sella. She recently earned her Master of Music Degree in Harp Performance at Rice University, in May 2026. She also earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Harp Performance with a Minor in Jewish Studies at Rice University in 2024. While at Rice, she studied with Paula Page and Allegra Lilly. She was a student of Mary Kay Waddington, founder of the Suzuki Harp School, for thirteen years.
Lily Primus, Harpist 