Judy Loman

Biography

Recognized as one of the world’s foremost harp virtuosos, Judy Loman graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with the celebrated harpist Carlos Salzedo. She became Principal Harpist with the Toronto Symphony in 1960, a post she held until 2002.

As a soloist, Judy Loman has won the admiration of audiences and critics alike across Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan. The Toronto Symphony has featured her as soloist on several tours and she has appeared as guest artist with numerous other orchestras and ensembles worldwide. She has participated in many of North America’s music festivals and several of her performances have been filmed by Rhombus Media and aired on public television.

A prolific recording artist, she has been a recipient of Canada’s Juno Award for best classical recording and the Canada Council’s Grand Prix du disque Canadien. Her newly released CD, La Harpe Fantastique, is a part of her “80s Project”, in which she is learning and recording all the pieces that she has wanted to do and never had time for.

In addition to performances of traditional harp repertoire, Ms. Loman has commissioned several new works for her instrument by Canada’s foremost composers, including John Weinzweig, R. Murray Schafer, Glenn Buhr and Kelly Marie Murphy. She has introduced these compositions worldwide through her recordings and recitals in North America, Europe, Israel and Japan. Always seeking to add to the harp repertoire, she is active in transcribing classical and baroque works for the harp from the piano repertoire, as well as arranging folk and Christmas music for voice and harp.