American harpist Anna Maria Mendieta enjoys a dynamic career as a soloist, orchestral musician, recording artist, and teacher. She is the principal harpist of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and has performed with numerous symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles across the United States and internationally, including the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera & Ballet, Russian National Orchestra, and Russian State Ballet.
Ms. Mendieta is frequently featured performing the harp concerti of Joaquín Rodrigo as well as specially arranged tango works for harp and orchestra. She has received international recognition as a pioneer and exceptional soloist by the League of American Orchestras for her premiere of the tango music of Astor Piazzolla, making history with the unique programming and use of harp in this musical style. Her Harp-Tango project, “Tango Del Cielo” (Tango of Heaven), has become an award-winning international touring show, a celebrated album, and the focus of a documentary film. The show was featured at the 2019 World Tango Festival in Victoria, Canada.
An advocate for contemporary music, Ms. Mendieta served a long tenure as principal harpist with the nationally acclaimed Women’s Philharmonic and was the featured instrumentalist for several seasons with Theater Flamenco of San Francisco. She is a frequent winner of the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music program and continues to perform innovative outreach programs for the Symphony. In addition, Ms. Mendieta has performed for motion pictures, television, and national radio, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to expanding the reach of the harp.
