Emmanuel Ceysson is one of the world’s leading harpists. In 2020 he joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Principal Harp, having previously held this position at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and before that at Opera de Paris. Since 2005 he has been a presence in such leading venues on the international musical scene as the Wigmore Hall, the Salle Gaveau, Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Berlin Philharmonie, where his appearances in recital, concerto repertoire and chamber music regularly win high praise from the press. His unfailing commitment to his instrument has earned him the highest international distinctions. In rapid succession, he won the Gold Medal and a special performance prize at the USA International Harp Competition (Bloomington) in 2004, First Prize and six special prizes at the New York Young Concert Artist Auditions in 2006, and First Prize at the prestigious ARD Competition in Munich in September 2009, thus becoming the first harpist to obtain awards at three major international competitions.
Recent concert highlights include his first appearance with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits, further concerts with the Prague Philharmonia and their Music Director, Emmanuel Villaume, in both Prague and in Bratislava for the opening concert of the 2023 Music Festival, the Glière Concerto for Harp with the Oslo Philharmonic, Gävle Symfoniorkester, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Finland, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester at the Stefaniensaal of Graz, the Prague Radio Symphony, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Saint-Saëns Morceau de concert with the Recreation Orchestra (Graz), performances at the Hong Kong Chamber Music Festival, concerts with Quatuor Voce, solo recitals at the Frick Collection, New York and Teatro del Lago, Chile, Mozart Concerto for Harp and Flute K299 with the Vivaldi Orchestra (Italy) and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (Canada), chamber and orchestral programmes with the Musikkollegium Winterthur and performances at Classical Tahoe and a chamber recital at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Recent engagements include the world premiere of Joe Hisaishi’s Harp Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a work he has also performed with the Orchestre national Bordeaux-Aquitaine in both Bordeaux and at the Philharmonie in Paris, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Century Orcheatra (Osaka) the Singapore Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on tour to Taipei and Tokyo. He will play the work next with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Other recent engagements include a recital tour of Ireland and a special appearance at the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series, California. Upcoming engagements include the world premiere of Narongrit Dhamabutra’s Harp Concerto with the Royal Bangkok Symphony and performances with the Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Orchestra National de Lyon, the Mississippi Symphony Oechestra and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, as well as solo recitals in Utah and Oregon.
Emmanuel gives regular masterclasses in France and in the course of his foreign tours and appearances. In 2010, Emmanuel Ceysson was nominated in the category ‘Solo Instrumental Discovery’ at the Victoires de la Musique Classique. In November 2011 he received a Prix d’Encouragement from the Académie des Beaux-Arts de l’Institut de France (Fondation Simone Del Duca) in recognition of his distinguished early career. Mr. Ceysson is a Naïve recording artist since January 2012 when he released Opéra Fantaisie. He has also recorded the Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp K299 for the Aparte Label with the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and has recently performed this work with the LA Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel. Emmauel recently made the premiere recording of Thomas De Hartmann Harp Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits and recorded the Hisaishi Harp Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for Universal, to be released in 2026. He has given recitals and educational residencies at countless international venues including the Wolf Trap Foundation in Virginia, North Orange County Community Concerts Association in California, Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Michigan, Mary Baldwin College in Virginia, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts (WA), and Emporia Arts Council in Kansas.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
