Anna Maria Mendieta enjoys a busy career as a soloist, orchestral musician, recording artist and teacher. She is the principal harpist with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and has performed as a soloist and as a member with many symphony orchestras and chamber music groups across the country and around the world. She is often a featured soloist with orchestras with specialties of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Harp Concerti “Concierto Serenata” and “Concierto de Aranjuez”, as well as dramatic tango arrangements for harp and orchestra. As a pioneer, she has received international recognition as “an exceptional soloist” by the League of American Orchestras for her performance of the tango music of Astor Piazzolla, marking history with the unique programming and use of harp in this musical style. An advocate of contemporary music, Ms. Mendieta previously served a long tenure as the principal harpist with the nationally acclaimed Women’s Philharmonic. Being raised with music and dance, she joined with her family’s deep ties in flamenco and was a featured instrumentalist for several seasons with Theater Flamenco of San Francisco. Her passion for the Hispanic culture inspired her to explore Argentine Tango and create a new outlet for the harp. She was invited to perform for the 2006 National Harp Conference to premiere her presentation of harp and tango music. The success of the concept led to the creation of her national touring concert-show “Tango Del Cielo” (Tango of Heaven) which combines music and dance with Argentine Tango, Flamenco, Spanish Classical, and Latin Jazz. Her show was a featured show at the 2019 World Tango Festival in Victoria, B.C. and her Harp-Tango project is the focus of a documentary film.
Collaboration
Multi-Grammy Award winning composers Jorge Calandrelli, Pablo Ziegler and Daniel Binelli, experts of the tango music of Astor Piazzolla, have specially composed music for Ms. Mendieta, which will be featured in an album of Argentine Tango music presented on the harp. Ms. Mendieta has also collaborated with concert pianist and Latin American music specialist, Polly Ferman, and has performed concerts with her and an international music and dance ensemble called, “Leading Ladies of Tango”.
Education
Ms. Mendieta began studying the harp at the age of seven at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Israeli harpist Efrat Zaklad. Thereafter, she continued her studies with Marjorie Chauvel, and received her degree in Music with honors from Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, California, where she later served on the faculty. Extensive private study followed with San Francisco Symphony harpist Doug Rioth and with renowned harp teacher Alice Chalifoux at the Salzedo Harp Colony in Camden, Maine.
Discography
Anna Maria has recorded several albums and has participated on many recording projects. Her latest album “Del Cielo!” is soon to be released. Other notable projects include the National Geographic Society’s Around the World series with “Serenity – Songs of Peace and Enlightenment” for which Ms. Mendieta was invited as a featured soloist representing the music of Spain. Previous to that, Sugo Records had signed her to a long-term contract and released her first solo album, “Enchanted Christmas” with record breaking sales across the country. Soon followed other successful albums “Broadway – Center Stage”, “An Acoustic Christmas” and others. Anna Maria has participated in other recording projects including “Tota Pulchra”, “Alegria y Placer” with Musae Womens Vocal Ensemble, “The Women’s Philharmonic” and “Florence Price”, both on the Koch International Classic label, “The Music of Chen Yi”, New Albion label, and “A Ceremony of Carols” with the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
Awards and Honors
In recognition of her Spanish heritage, Anna Maria was invited by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to perform solo concerts for National Hispanic Week in Washington D.C. In addition, she has been honored to perform for Pope Benedict XVI, the King and Queen of Spain and other international dignitaries including President Bill Clinton, President Gorbachev, Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Secretary of State George Schultz, as well as special international performances at the Vatican, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, China, and other countries. Ms. Mendieta has appeared as a soloist for television, motion pictures, National Public Radio, and the Emmy Awards. Ms. Mendieta is the only harpist to have twice received the “Matz Memorial Award”, sponsored by Lyon & Healy Harp Company for “Outstanding Achievement”.
Celebrity Spotlight
Anna Maria enjoys performing concerts and shows with celebrity entertainers and is often given the spotlight. She has shared programs with opera singer Frederica von Stade, performed with Frank Sinatra Jr., Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton John, and was the featured accompanist for a television special with Welsh singer Charlotte Church. Song-writer/entertainer Barry Manilow calls her his “favorite harpist”.