“…The unexpected delight of the evening was violinist James Ehnes and harpist Heidi Krutzen in a Saint-Saens “Fantaisie” (Op. 124), which was all elegance and subtlety.”- The Seattle Times

From Orpheus and the ancient Greeks to Dagda and the ancient Celts, cultures around the world have celebrated the magical sound of the harp for millennia.  Heidi Krutzen’s history with the instrument started when she was just three years old.  She told her parents that she would play the harp, and at nine, they couldn’t hold her back.

Since then, Heidi has emerged as a leading musician in Canada, a role she blends with humanitarian work in Africa.  In addition to her robust performance and teaching schedule, Heidi dedicates much of her time each year fundraising for and volunteering with her charity, Malambo Grassroots, dedicated to community development in southern Zambia. “Together, music and humanitarian work make me whole,” is how Heidi describes these two roles in her life.  A holistic approach to music making is central to Heidi Krutzen’s ethos, too.  She’s celebrated for her solo, chamber music, and orchestral performances, for her collaborations with composers, and for her excellence as a teacher.

When she performs, Heidi often changes people’s perspectives of the harp.  Her solo and chamber music appearances lead audiences and critics to shift their focus from her extraordinary technique to her ability to transport audiences through sound.  “Music is a living art form, and as a harpist, I have to be as creative and imaginative with interpretation as possible,” says Heidi.  “I don’t have a repertoire rich with Beethoven and Shostakovich and Bach, like other instrumentalists.  I get to discover new treasures in music that are less known.”

Collaboration is a cornerstone of Heidi Krutzen’s musical life as well.  She works with composers from around the world, including Canada’s R. Murray Schafer and New Zealand’s Gareth Farr, and has premiered more than 50 solo, chamber and ensemble works.  As a chamber musician, she is a member of the acclaimed Trio Verlaine with flutist Lorna McGhee and violist David Harding.  She also tours and records with the Krutzen/McGhee Duo, and has created a new project called Couloir with cellist Ariel Barnes.  Heidi is a regular guest at chamber music festivals throughout North America, performing with violinist James Ehnes, the Shanghai, Pacifica and Young Danish String Quartets, and other extraordinary musicians.  “I love the connection you make, and the fresh perspective you get when you collaborate with other artists.  It’s amazing to experience everyone’s flexibility and energy.  It feels like a new creation every time you play together.”

In addition to her solo and chamber music, she is a founding member of Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble and the principal harpist of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the National Broadcast Orchestra.  A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, and a student of renowned Parisian pedagogue Jacqueline Borot, Heidi now teaches at the University of British Columbia, and is on faculty at the National Youth Orchestra Canada.

Visit Heidi online at Couloir.ca, TrioVerlaine.com, and MalamboGrassroots.ca