Praised for her “especially fine contributions” and “standout solo work,” Eleanor Kirk was appointed Principal Harpist of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in 2025. She previously held principal positions with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, performed as Acting Principal Harp with the Santa Fe Opera, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Opera, and appears as a frequent guest with the top orchestras in the United States.

Highlights of the 2024–2025 season include guest principal appearances with the Chicago, Vancouver, St. Louis, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras; chamber performances on the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota and the Chicago Symphony’s Chamber Music Series; and summer appearances with the Santa Fe Opera in Die Walküre and at the San Miguel Chamber Music Festival.

A passionate educator, Eleanor is the co-artistic director of the Young Artist Harp Seminar, a two week summer music intensive, which celebrates it’s 25th year this year. She is also a proud member of the Chicago Harp Quartet, one of the leading ensembles of its kind. Eleanor holds degrees from Columbia University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and studied with June Han, Sarah Bullen, and Lynn Wiliams.

Chicago harpist Lauren Hayes is an avid orchestral, chamber, and solo musician, distinguishing herself in contemporary music, and ensemble performance. She performs frequently with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Composers Orchestra, Joffrey Ballet Orchestra, and on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNow series.

Hayes was a Tanglewood Fellow in 2018, has been an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a guest harpist with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and appeared with the Burnt Sugar Arkestra at Carnegie Hall in 2022. She is also an Artist in Residence at the Caroga Lake Music Festival. Her work spans traditional orchestral repertoire, Irish music, and collaborations with living composers and interdisciplinary ensembles.In 2023, Hayes was a featured soloist at the Gothenburg Harp Festival and was awarded an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in recognition of her professional achievements. In addition to performing, she maintains a private teaching studio in Chicago, offering harp and piano instruction to students of all ages and levels.

Hayes is the Program Director for the Chicago-based nonprofit Sharing Notes, which brings live music to hospitals and senior living communities. She is also expanding her artistic practice into electronic and electroacoustic music for the harp, incorporating effects, amplification, and experimental techniques in solo and collaborative work.Hayes holds a PD in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University (2019), an MA in Harp with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music (2016), and a BM in Harp Performance from the University of Arizona (2014).