Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis Resigns from Cleveland Institute of Music After 28 Years

Kondonassis says it has been "a privilege to mentor so many wonderful and talented students" during her three-decade tenure

The harpist Yolanda Kondonassis has announced her decision to retire from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) following 28 years of service. Kondonassis is presently the head of CIM's harp department and was named on Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year list for 2023.

Kondonassis will depart from the position in May 2025.

"By now, some of you may have heard that I notified The Cleveland Institute of Music of my intention to resign as faculty member and head of the CIM harp department, effective in May, 2025," Kondonassis said. "After 28 years in this position, it has been a privilege to mentor so many wonderful and talented students who have gone on to make such a positive impact in our musical communities."

"I have always considered the promises I make to my students to be sacred vows, and I have done my best to honor their trust in me. With a heavy heart, I have concluded that I cannot keep all of those promises alone."

"This world is a magical, complex, and challenging place. To my dear current students, I know that you will navigate the landscape ahead with intelligence, integrity, humor, and grace. I am certain we will meet again. In the meantime, I must close this chapter and look forward to wherever my professional life takes me next."

Acknowledge as one of the world's foremost harpists, Kondonassis made her concerto debut at age 18 with the New York Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta. Since that time, she has appeared with international orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Houston Symphony, and NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic, among others.

She is also the author of several pedagogical texts, including The Composer’s Guide to Writing Well for the Modern Harp (Carl Fischer, 2019) and On Playing the Harp (Carl Fischer, 2006).

In 2020, she was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for her world premiere recording of Jennifer Higdon’s Harp Concerto with The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (Azica, 2019). Her 2008 album Air, of music by Takemitsu and Debussy, also received a GRAMMY nomination.