Grace Roepke is an international award winning soloist and the newly appointed Principal Harpist of the Louisville Orchestra. As the first and only harpist to be awarded The Grand and First Prize at the FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition, she has also received top prizes in numerous competitions and has appeared as a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra and Peninsula Music Festival, among others.

As an orchestral musician, Ms. Roepke has performed as Guest Principal Harp with the Baltimore, Detroit, Minnesota, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras; and has spent summers at various music festivals, including the Peninsula Music Festival and Grant Park Music Festival.

​In addition to her performance career, Ms. Roepke is a passionate music educator. She has been on faculty at the Brevard Music Center, and given masterclasses at the Interlochen Center for the Arts as well as the Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference. Currently, she maintains a private studio offering both in-person and virtual lessons to students of all ages.

Ms. Roepke began her musical journey at the age of six, and is a proud third-generation harpist following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. She received her degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Yolanda Kondonassis.

 

What do you enjoy most about performing with the Louisville Orchestra?

I love our creative programming! We are constantly combining old favorites with new premieres, in addition to really fun movies, pops, and family programs. I always feel like there’s something for everyone on every single one of our concerts.

In what ways do you think the Louisville Orchestra can make the greatest impact on our community?

Making classical music as accessible as possible and ensuring all our community members know they’re welcome at any and all of our concerts and events.

Who is your favorite composer or musician?

Debussy, Ravel, Ginastera

Do you have a Louisville Orchestra or event that is especially meaningful or memorable?

The Mammoth Cave concert was one of my first with the orchestra, and it was such an amazing experience that beautifully explored and honored the rich history of the cave.

On a personal note, this concert was also extremely memorable because I met my partner, our former Principal Bass, Vincent Luciano here. We happened to be seated right next to each other, and often joke that we wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for Mammoth Cave, since we’re usually on opposite sides of the orchestra!

What are some things that inspire you as a musician?

My amazing colleagues! I’m constantly inspired by their beautiful playing in every concert we perform.

What’s something unique, surprising, fun, or interesting about you?  

Both my mother and grandmother are harpists.

What are some of your hobbies outside the LO?

Cooking, baking, pilates, and rooting for my Minnesota sports teams!

Favorite orchestral work?

La Mer by Claude Debussy

What's on your playlist (what song are you currently into)?

BRAT by Charli xcx and Stick Season by Noah Kahan