Juan Sebastián is a Colombian harpist based in Amsterdam, with a special interest in
broadening the traditional paths of classical harpists through non-Western, electronic,
folk, jazz, and world music, among others. He is currently focused on performance and
education both in the Netherlands and in Latin America as Co-Founder and Co-Artistic
Director of the Latin American Harp Association (ALDA).
Awards
At age 15, he debuted as a soloist in Canada with the orchestra I Musici de Montréal.
His career has been marked by diverse awards, including 1st place at the International
Mexico Harp Competition, the Jóvenes Intérpretes (2012) and Jóvenes Talentos (2010)
concert series of the Colombian Republic Bank and the Cartagena Music Festival,
respectively, as well as the Flothuis Prijs Donemus 2018 at the Rosa Spier Harp
Concours. He has also received excellence scholarships such as the Mazda Foundation
Scholarship for the Arts and Sciences, the Talent Grant from the Amsterdam University
of the Arts, and the Saratoga Harp Colony scholarship in New York (2007/2009).
ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE
Juan Sebastián’s orchestral trajectory includes tours as Principal Harpist with the Orchestra of the Americas in Europe (2018) and Central America (2013), with the Jazz Jong Metropole Orkest in the Netherlands, and with Filarmónica Joven de Colombia (2010-2012). He has also performed with the Medellín Philharmonic, Bogotá Philharmonic, Cali Philharmonic, and Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia orchestras. His festival appearances include the Edinburgh Summer Festival in Scotland, the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam, and the Utrecht Early Music Festival, as well as venues such as the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He has had the pleasure of working with conductors such as Daniele Gatti, Carlos Prieto, Leon Spierer, and Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and with composers including Krzysztof Penderecki, Tan Dun, Philip Glass, and Gabriela Montero.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Juan Sebastián was pivotally mentored by Bibiana Ordóñez (Sinfónica Nacional de
Colombia) and Emmanuel Ceysson (Opéra de Paris, MET New York, LA Philharmonic),
as well as Erika Waardenburg and Sandrine Chatron (Nederlandse Opera & Ballet),
with whom he completed his Master’s studies in Harp Music Performance at the
Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2018. His pursuit of broadening the horizons of his instrument led him to elective studies in Triple Baroque Italian Harp with Constance
Allanic. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned harpists including
Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche, Sivan Magen, Judy Loman, Catrin Finch, Susann McDonald,
Xavier de Maistre, Jennifer Swartz, Masumi Nagasawa, Jana Boušková, Elizabeth
Hainen, and Frédérique Cambreling.
CURRENT ENDEAVOURS
Currently, Juan Sebastián actively performs as a soloist and freelancer, and as a
pedagogue leading various harp ensembles as part of the educational project Het
Leeorkest, associated with the Venezuelan El Sistema initiative, and teaching at the
Muziekschool Diemen. He is active in different ensembles, such as the Portuguese Casa
do Fado Amsterdam. Through the Latin American Harp Association (ALDA), he and the
other four international board members demonstrate their commitment to supporting
harp education across Latin America through the organisation of masterclasses,
workshops, discussion panels, and providing infrastructure where it is most needed.