Andrea Steckermeier-Thiele
Andrea Steckermeier-Thiele, born in Vilsbiburg, Bavaria, began her education in harp at the age of eight and continued in 1986 at the Conservatory in Munich under Professor Helga Storck. After having received honors in 1992, she completed her formal education in harp with a concert exam in 1995.

In addition, she has worked with Professor Catherine Michel and received a scholarship from the German National Scholarship Foundation and Rotary International to study under Professor Nancy Allen at Yale University where she obtained her Master's Degree in Music and won first prize at the Woolsey Hall Competition.

She has been the winner of many competitions and has received numerous awards since early on in her education: in 1989 she won first prize in the German nationwide "Youth Making Music Competition" and an award from the German Harp Players Association; in 1990 she received the Youth Culture Award from the Rotary Club in Landshut and first prize at the Felix-Mottl Memory Competition at the Conservatory in Munich; in 1994 she received a scholarship from the German Music Council Competition.

She has brought her artistic effect as an accomplished harpist to many an orchestra, including the National Youth Orchestra (Germany), the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hamburg State Opera, and the German Opera in Berlin. She was pricipal harpist in the Schwerin State Orchestra from 1994-2000 and has been principle harpist of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra since 1998.

As a soloist, she has performed, among others. on Bavarian Radio, Hessen Radio, North German Radio, at the SchleswigHolstein Festival, the Rheingau Festival, as well as in the Mecklenburg Summer Music Festival, the Philharmonia Hungaria, the Polish Chamber Philharmonic, Salzburg Mozart Orchestra, the Warsaw Symphonic, and the Schwerin State Orchestra.

Her repertoire of solo and chamber music extends from baroque to contemporary music. She has worked extensively as a performer of harp music of the 26th century and has premiered compositions from Genzmer, Eberlein, Denholf, and Mautner.

For more information about the artist visit her website: http://www.harfe.com.