Jessica Schaeffer

Jessica Schaeffer is based in Asheville, NC and leads the adventurous life of a freelance musician. Since moving to Asheville in 2022, she regularly performs with the Greenville, Augusta, and Aiken Symphony Orchestras as well as with Asheville-based chamber music company, Pan Harmonia.

In addition to performing with large ensembles, Jessica enjoys the creative process of collaborating with composers and other creatives. She is an original member of the experimental chamber ensemble, The Broken Consort, and The Harpoons, a harp-and-bassoon duo. She has consulted with and premiered works by composers Emily Lau, Carlo Dean, Jeff
Ives, Gang Situ, Otto Muller, as well as local NC composers Drew Banzhoff and Carolina Perez,
among others.

As a popular solo entertainment harpist, Jessica is known for her tasteful pop and jazz renderings and has a thriving business providing live harp music for high-end weddings, parties and special events throughout the south. She has performed on stage with Childish Gambino, Mason Bates and opened for Harry Connick Jr.

An avid educator, Jessica brings a wealth of pedagogical experience and curiosity to lessons,
seeking to meet the needs of each individual student through a customized course of study. Jessica’s belief in the power of community has led her to serve as an active member of both the Dalcroze Society of America and the American Harp Society (AHS). She currently serves as the president of the newly-formed WNC Chapter of the AHS, whose mission is to support, include, and cultivate the diversity of all harpists and harp enthusiasts in our region as well as to be a
vehicle for broader community connection and outreach throughout WNC.

 

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Jessica began music lessons at age four and continued her formal
music education at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Aspen Music Festival, Northwestern University (B.M.), Longy School of Music (M.M. & Dalcroze Education Certification). Post-graduate studies with Karen Gottlieb (Assistant Harpist, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra) www.JessicaSchaeffer.com