Bridget Kibbey, Harp

Sunday, November 16, 2025

3 pm

Memorial Hall, OTR

Lending her singular virtuosity and verve to the concert harp, Bridget Kibbey, a native of Findlay, Ohio, is known for her great musical instincts that transcend the harp. She interprets the masters—Bach,Debussy, Ravel, Bartok—bringing “a fresh face to the familiar music”(Seattle City Arts Magazine), while being a bold advocate of genre-crossing storytelling and newly-commissioned works. Her virtuosic and soulful ability to communicate draws in the audience. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and has been featured as soloist in top halls internationally.


Kibbey is the recipient of a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, a Salon de Virtuosi SONY Recording Grant, premiere prix at the Journées de les Harpes Competition in Arles, France, and won a place in the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program. Her solo performances have been broadcast widely, and she has recorded to great critical acclaim.


Her debut album was named one of the Top Ten Releases by Time Out New York; her next solo release with Pentatone Records, slated for 2026, is a set

of surprising keyboard transcriptions. She has commissioned concerti from Vivian Fung and Brazilian composer Joao Luiz, exploring the sounds of Carnaval on the harp; and she brings two newly-commissioned concerti to the stage in 2027.


Known for her curatorial strengths, Kibbey builds touring projects merging her own solo transcriptions alongside powerful collaborations; she has performed in duo with Kathleen Battle and Dawn Upshaw, Avi Avital, Alexi Kenney, Samuel Torres, and Mahsa Vahdat, among others.


She appears frequently as soloist and chamber musician at festivals and series across the USA. From 2022–2024, Kibbey was the Artistic Director of MOSA Concerts, elevating a local concert series to a notable world-class, cross-genre performing arts series.

VIDEOS

“… the Yo-Yo Ma of the harp.”


— Vogue Magazine


“… made it seem as though her instrument had been

waiting all its life to explode with the gorgeous colors

and energetic figures she was getting from it.”


— The New York Times




"...Once she applied her fingers to her large concert harp, it was clear that she was a formidable musician, fluent in the 'modes, colors, and drones' within music that carries the weight of history.”

Portland Press



PROGRAM

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565.......................................J.S. Bach (1685-1750)**

Allemande from French Suite in G Major, BWV 816

Prelude to Lute Suite in C Minor, BWV 997

Sarabande from French Suite in G Major, BWV 816


Prélude, from Suite Bergamasque L. 75 ...........................Claude Debussy (1862-1918)**


Une châtelaine en sa tour, Op. 110.....................................Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)


Sonata for Harp.........................................Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)

1. Massig schnell

2. Lebhaft

3. Lied, Ihr Freunde, hänget


INTERMISSION


Bandoneon............................................Paquito d’Rivera (b. 1948)


Granada...................................................Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)**


Bards and Griots..........................................................Bridget Kibbey


Suite for Harp, Op. 83..............................................Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

1. Overture

2. Toccata

3. Nocturne

4. Fugue

5. Hymn, St. Denio


**Denotes works transcribed by Kibbey

Photography by Gayna Bassin

Judy Martin, Administrative Director of

Matinée Musicale Cincinnati

Bridget Kibbey spoke to the audience between pieces

Bridget indicated where the mechanisms are located

in a harp.

Bridget demonstrated how the pedals of the harp work

The Immanuel School of Music Orchestra and Choir performed during the reception, conducted by Ellen Stephens

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The Matinée Musicale Board and Members took Bridget Kibbey out to dinner after the reception

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