Toronto Harpist Joanna Jordan Biography
North America’s first classical – jazz – rock – comedic electric harpist, Joanna Jordan has been delighting and amazing audiences throughout the world. In concert, this award winning musician and accomplished comedian provides the best of both worlds, demonstrating that it is possible to perform difficult pieces without taking one’s self too seriously and still remain true to the highest standards of musical integrity.
Trained in three disciplines, Classical, Jazz and extensive training at Second City, Jordan was a multiple prize-winner at the International and Pop Harp Festival and toured the USA for two years as the recipient of the prestigious American Harp Society “Concert Artist Award”. Representing the 3,000 member organization as their concert Artist for two years, Joanna did debut recitals in Los Angeles, San Diego, Kansas City, Buffalo, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, Dallas, San Antonia, Phoenix and Houston.
In 1996, Joanna Jordan received the “Gordon Delamont Award” for the excellence of her compositions. On May 17, 2000, she received the “Musician of the Year” Award from the Mississauga Arts Council. Joanna made her New York debut on June 8, 2000 at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Joanna Jordan has released four recordings. Two are with the CLAZZ® Trio of harp, bass and drums, entitled “Clazzic” and “A Little Bit of All”. There is also a “CLAZZ Flute and Harp Duo” recording and a solo relaxation CD entitled, “The Romantic Harp”.
Joanna Jordan’s concert credits include various tours throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and appearances at the American Harp Society Conference in 1993, the Guelph Spring Festival, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Charlottetown Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival. She has performed with the likes of Tony Bennett, Melissa Manchester, Harry Belafonte and has been chosen to play National Anthems at a number of Toronto Blue Jays baseball games.
Having done more than 2,000 appearances, Joanna has toured and performed for many people, including performances for Her Majesty, The Queen Mother; Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret; Tina Turner; The Three Tenors; Vatican Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Casaroli; The Raja of Punjab; Franklin Roosevelt Jr; Pierre Elliot Trudeau; Ella Fitzgerald; Oscar Peterson and Chuck Berry.
Joanna has also appeared as “Harp Vader” in many children’s concerts, representing the Toronto Symphony Education Program. She has written and performed music for film and videos, done more than 2,000 private performances for Royalty, major corporations, entertainment executive and cultural organizations and has made appearances on all of Canada’s national television networks.
In 1993, Jordan imported the first Electric Harp into Canada. She is also the first harpist in the world to have recorded on the Lyon & Healy Electric Harp. This harp captures the beautiful sound of an acoustic harp, improving upon its bass, making it sound rich, clear and distinct and the soprano section mellow. Jordan has selected it as her harp of preference.
Ms. Jordan is a citizen of both Canada and the United States.
