Stephanie Claussen has been specializing in Renaissance and Early Music for over fourteen years. At the age of twelve, she won 1st place in the Macalester Scottish Country Harp Competition in St. Paul and was additionally named “Most Promising Harpist.” After studying harp for eleven years with Twin Cities harpist Cathy Victorsen, Stephanie received her Bachelors of Music in performance at the University of Minnesota under the instruction of Kathy Kienzle, principal harpist of the Minnesota Orchestra. Collaborations Claussen has performed harp as a member of the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, indie band “Acoustic Nerve”, and the University of Minnesota Early Music Ensemble. She has made guest appearances with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, the North Heights Chorale, the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, the Paris Conservatory’s Saxophone Ensemble and the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble. For eleven years she performed as a wandering minstrel at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Stephanie also sings with the North Heights Chorale, a thirty-voice choir that performs classical works by Mendelson, Handel, John Rutter and others. She performed with the Chorale at Carnegie Hall in 2009. Her diverse repertoire encompasses classical, folk, pop, sacred and Early music.