Academic Staff | Orchestral Studies

Dr Rosanna Moore

Assistant Lecturer

Dr Rosanna Moore is a dynamic and multifaceted performer known for her innovative integration of music, theatre, and storytelling.

Equally at home on stage as a harpist and actor, she brings a unique voice to classical performance by infusing it with theatricality and narrative flair. Her work spans traditional concert settings, experimental theatre, and multimedia collaborations, often challenging the conventional boundaries of music performance and the harp.

Rosanna is a prize-winning harpist who has received recognition in major international competitions, including the Dutch Harp Competition, Marcel Tournier Competition, and the Gold Medal Competition at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she was the first harpist finalist. Before her recent move back to Europe following a decade living in the US, she is a tenured member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and a frequent guest artist with leading ensembles across the continent. Her festival appearances include a recurring role as principal harp at the Lake George Music Festival (NY) and solo recitals at the Sentmenat International Harp Festival (Spain).

She has premiered multiple new works, including a number of concerti and numerous interdisciplinary collaborations, often developed through her partnerships with composers. Her award-winning theatrical harp show Roll Up, Roll Up and her research on R. Murray Schafer’s Crown of Ariadne exemplify her dedication to merging performance with scholarship. She is also co-founder and host of the Soundweavers Podcast, which supports chamber musicians navigating today’s gig economy.

Rosanna holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she also earned a Performer’s Certificate, an Arts Leadership Certificate, and a minor in theatre. She previously studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music, under the mentorship of Kathleen Bride and Eira Lynn Jones.

Currently, she serves as Assistant Lecturer in Harp at TU Dublin Conservatoire, where she teaches students across collegiate and pre-collegiate programmes, bringing her international experience and interdisciplinary approach to the next generation of musicians.

Research/Performance Interests and Expertise:

Rosanna’s research lies at the intersection of music, theatre, and performance practice, with a particular focus on embodied performance and the use of acting techniques and practitioners to enhance musical expression and performance. Her work explores how physicality, gesture, and narrative can transform traditional concert experiences, leading to more engaging and inclusive performances for both the audience and performer.

She has published in Contemporary Music Review on the role of choreography in harp performance and regularly gives workshops on stage presence and performance etiquette.

Additionally, she has written a number of articles for Harp Column Magazine. Rosanna is a staunch advocate for new music and interdisciplinary collaboration, frequently commissioning and premiering works that challenge the norms of harp repertoire.

Her expertise in contemporary performance practice, combined with her theatrical training, makes her an ideal mentor for students interested in pushing the boundaries of both musical performance and the larger career in the arts.

Professional Affiliations / External Engagements

Rosanna is a sought-after clinician and has given masterclasses at institutions including the Royal Northern College of Music, Chetham’s School of Music, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Oberlin Conservatory and the Cincinnati College of Music. She has adjudicated for the American Harp Society and served as President of its Rochester Chapter (2019–2021) and Secretary of the Eugene Chapter (2022–2023).

She is also a consultant for the Poppy Harp Composers Project and has held leadership roles with the OSSIA New Music Collective. Her professional network spans North America and Europe, offering students insight to a broad and vibrant community of contemporary artists and collaborators.

Publications / Awards / Upcoming Research Outputs / Performances:

Recent and upcoming highlights include:

Debut duo album Women Are... with Hats+Heels Duo (2023)
World premiere and tour of DJ Sparr’s Extraordinary Motion for electric harp and orchestra (2024)
World premiere of Mountains Become Oceans (Angela Elizabeth Slater) with percussionist Dr Hannah Weaver (2025) with the Amarillo Symphony
Upcoming solo and chamber album releases
Publication: “Choreography and Embodied Performance in Schafer’s Crown of Ariadne” in Contemporary Music Review (2020)
Publishing Company with Duo, Hats+Heels

For more information, please see www.rosannaharp.com