André Tarantiles

André Tarantiles, a resident of New York City and New Hope Pennsylvania, whom the New York Times has referred to as “an expert harpist”, and the Newark Star Ledger as “clearly a virtuoso”, received his Bachelor of Music Degree with high distinction and his Master of Music Degree with highest distinction from Indiana University School of Music where he was a student of Peter E. Eagle. He has also studied with Jane B. Weidensaul and Kathleen Bride.

Mr. Tarantiles has concertized throughout the United States and has performed as soloist in all the major concert halls in New York City. He has appeared on national television accompanying opera stars Aprile Millo, Benita Valente, Renée Fleming, Heidi Grant-Murphy, Jennifer Larmore, Marcello Giordani, Susan Graham, Maureen O’Flynn, Ruth Ann Swenson, Ramon Vargas, Christine Goerke, and Eric Cutler.

Formerly principal harpist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City Opera National Company and Opera Orchestra of New York, Mr. Tarantiles is currently principal harpist for the Philly Pops, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, Arizona Opera Wagner Festival, New Jersey State Opera, Connecticut Grand Opera, the Center for Contemporary Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Riverside Symphonia, the Princeton Symphony, the Key West Symphony, Festival Musical de Santo Domingo 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 and most recently the Casals Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he has also performed in orchestras backing up headliners as diverse as Placido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Jones, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, Roberta Flack, John Denver, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Patti Lupone. His multi-faceted career has included stints at The Fantasticks (the world’s longest running musical), Radio City Musical Hall, in Broadway pits playing both harp and synthesizer, and as staff harpist at the Papermill Playhouse. Mr. Tarantiles is featured on CDs for several labels and he is also the official harpist of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Mr. Tarantiles recently was honored to be invited to play several concerts as principal harpist with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico in San Juan and at the Kennedy Center and by New York City Opera for their productions of Salome, The Rape of Lucretia, and Mourning becomes Electra.

Mr Tarantiles is currently a faculty member of The College of New Jersey and Montclair State University.