Maria Casale

Professor Maria Casale, a world-class concert artist is the gold medal winner of the 1989 USA International Harp Competition, and has received numerous awards for her performances. Her solo debut recital in 1990 at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, brought her critical acclaim. She was a featured soloist this past summer at the World Harp Congress in Prague, Czech Republic and also in 1990 Paris, France.

As a concert soloist, she has enamored audiences throughout the world, including Japan, Europe, Israel, Mexico, and United States. Among the prestigious list of orchestras that Professor Casale has performed solos with are the Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Orquesta Sinfonica National. Professor Casale has also performed with the Santa Barbara Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, San Louis Obispo Mozart Festival, and Peter Britt Music Festival (Oregon). Currently she is Principal Harp with the New West Symphony, the California Philharmonic and the Downey Symphony. In April of 1999 she played the "Andrea Bocelli West Coast Tour of the Americas". In addition to her busy performance schedule, she teaches harp at Pepperdine University and California State University, Northridge.

Professor Casale began her harp studies at the age of six with Sister Emerentia at Marylhurst College in Portland, Oregon. In 1980 she entered the Julliard School of Music, studying under Susann McDonald, where she earned both her Bachelor and Master Degrees.

Email: Maria.Casale@pepperdine.edu