Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Cope Johnson ’21 MM, ’22 GD
Hannah Cope Johnson is Principal Harp of the Metropolitan Opera. She was previously Principal Harp of the Sarasota Orchestra. She has appeared with many ensembles in New England including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, and Rhode Island Philharmonic among others. Recent career highlights include a debut solo recital for the American Harp Society in New York City and guest artist features with Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota and Boston Chamber Music Society.
Hannah spent many years in the harp competition circuit and took home first prizes at the American Harp Society National Competition, the Lyon and Healy Awards, the Grandjany Memorial Competition, and most recently took 2me Prix at the 2022 Concours International de Harpe Félix Godefroid in Belgium. She has also won fellowship positions at summer orchestra festivals including Tanglewood Music Center, Marrowstone Music Festival and Brevard Music Center.
Hannah grew up in Salt Lake City, UT where she studied harp with Kimberly Dunford and ShruDeLi Ownbey. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT with Dr. Nicole Brady, and obtained a Master of Music degree and a Graduate Diploma from New England Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Jessica Zhou of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys spending time with her husband Ben and their two beloved cats, Hobbes and Zeus. When she’s not on her harp bench, she loves hiking, trying new recipes, and playing Mario Kart.
Why did you choose NEC?
I chose NEC so I could study with world-class faculty that are actively involved in music making and shaping our industry. Most impactful was my harp teacher Jessica Zhou, Principal Harp of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
What have you been up to since graduating from NEC? What projects have you been working on? Do you have any goals you are looking to accomplish?
I’ve just finished my first season with the Met, in which I played exactly 150 performances. In addition I played my debut solo recital in New York City and an innovative chamber concert in Sarasota, Florida with Marcelina Suchocka, Principal Percussion of the Sarasota Orchestra. I was previously Principal Harp of the Sarasota Orchestra for one season before landing the Met. I am looking forward to more chamber concerts and recitals next season. I enjoy arranging, and I will be making new arrangements for the harp ensemble as I’ll be returning to Sarasota for a harp quartet concert next spring.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at NEC?
The pandemic marred most of my time at NEC, but I still have some great memories from my years there. I remember the other harpists in the studio took me out to Chinatown for my first dim sum experience. They ordered everything for me in Mandarin and I just ate whatever they put in front of me. They also brought a hotpot to my apartment and taught my husband and I how to make Chinese hotpot. In January 2020 I was fortunate to perform the Mozart Flute & Harp concerto as the concerto competition winner with Madeline Cawley ’20 MM, who has remained a dear friend. We have continued to make music together ever since meeting at NEC.
Share a story about one of your favorite faculty or studio instructors.
I loved Helen Greenwald’s courses and took several with her while I was at NEC. Her intellectual mastery of Italian opera astounded me. I enjoyed every second of her lectures. I remember I couldn’t believe that someone who regularly writes program notes for the Met was accessible to me in school.
How have your NEC experiences shaped your artistic approach?
Attending NEC was impactful for my confidence. Prior to my studies there I did not attend a major prestigious conservatory, so I wondered if my playing was on par with the other ambitious young musicians in the country and in the world. Seeing the high level of playing at NEC opened my eyes to the quality of musicianship that was possible, but it also solidified the impression that I belonged right there making music with the best.
Share any other stories about what has inspired you at NEC and beyond.
My NEC Harp professor, Jessica Zhou, is a genius. I remember countless lessons where she gave me very practical advice on how to physically execute challenging passages. She would sit at the harp and play whatever I was working on, think about it for a bit, and then tell me what parts of my body to pay attention to in order to execute it successfully. Her athleticism and firsthand experience playing so much repertoire was invaluable. We had one particular lesson where she successfully communicated a sound concept to me that led to a huge breakthrough in the tone quality of my fortes and upper register. She insisted that I understood the sound she was looking for. She made sure that I could hear it in my head before I birthed it with my hands. I will remember that particular lesson for the rest of my life! With Jessica’s help, my weaknesses became strengths.
Do you have any advice for young musicians/current NEC students?
Take advantage of the access you have to world-class faculty. Attend concerts and lectures you wouldn’t normally go to. NEC presents a great variety of programming and you’ll be amazed at what you can be exposed to.
Learn More About Hannah:
Current Job: Principal Harp at Metropolitan Opera
Major: Harp Performance
Degree: Master of Music & Graduate Diploma
Class Year: 2021 & 2022
Instrument: Harp
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