André Tarantiles
ANDRÉ TARANTILES, a resident of New York City and New Hope, Pennsylvania, has been referred to by The New York Times as “an expert harpist,” and by the Newark Star-Ledger as “clearly a virtuoso.” He received his Bachelor of Music with high distinction and his Master of Music with highest distinction from Indiana University School of Music, where he was a student of Peter E. Eagle. He has also studied with Jane B. Weidensaul and Kathleen Bride.
Mr. Tarantiles has concertized throughout the United States and has performed as soloist in all the major concert halls in New York City. He has appeared on national television accompanying opera stars Aprile Millo, Benita Valente, Renée Fleming, Heidi Grant-Murphy, Jennifer Larmore, Marcello Giordani, Susan Graham, Maureen O'Flynn, Ruth Ann Swenson, Ramon Vargas, Christine Goerke, Eric Cutler, and Joyce DiDonato.
Formerly principal harpist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City Opera National Company, and Opera Orchestra of New York, Mr. Tarantiles is currently principal harpist for the Philly Pops, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, New Jersey State Opera, Center for Contemporary Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Riverside Symphonia, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and Festival Musical de Santo Domingo (2001-2017).
He has also performed in orchestras backing up headliners as diverse as Placido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Jones, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, Roberta Flack, John Denver, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Patti Lupone, Natalie Merchant, Josh Groban, Gloria Estefan, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jennifer Hudson. His multi-faceted career has included stints at The Fantasticks (the world's longest running musical), Radio City Musical Hall, in Broadway pits playing both harp and synthesizer, as staff harpist at the Papermill Playhouse, and as a regular substitute in the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony. Mr. Tarantiles is featured on CDs for several labels and he is also the official harpist of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
He was honored to be invited to play several concerts as principal harpist with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico in San Juan and at the Kennedy Center. Mr. Tarantiles is currently a faculty member of The College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, Rutgers University, and Bryn Mawr College.
