Harpist Natalie Severson has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the Aspen Festival Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, working with noted conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Manfred Honeck, Gianandrea Noseda, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Péter Eötvös.
She also performs regularly with Pittsburgh-based ensembles Incidental Chamber Players and Resonance Works, and enjoys playing in the pit orchestra for the Pittsburgh CLO's A Musical Christmas Carol every December.
Natalie earned her master's and bachelor's degrees at Carnegie Mellon University, studying with PSO principal harpist Gretchen Van Hoesen. While at CMU, she performed with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, the Contemporary Ensemble and the CMU Opera Orchestra. In 2014, she performed Ginastera's Harp Concerto with the Philharmonic as the winner of the School of Music's concerto competition. As an undergraduate, she majored in both Harp Performance and French & Francophone studies, traveling to Courchevel, France, on a scholarship from the Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership, for intensive private studies with Isabelle Perrin and Jana Bouskova.
A passionate advocate for new music, Natalie is a member of NAT 28, a Pittsburgh contemporary music collaborative. She has performed and premiered works by composers such as David Stock, Reza Vali and Erberk Eryilmaz. In February 2016, she premiered Jean-Patrick Besingrand's harp concerto, Sur les ailes du temps, with the Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble.
A Minneapolis native, Natalie currently lives in Pittsburgh with her harp, Sir William. She loves teaching private students of all ages. She enjoys running, hot yoga, reading and cats.
