Juan Riveros
Harpist & Instructor
Juan Riveros is currently the Instructor of Harp at Michigan State University, as well as Principal Harpist of the Flint Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Opera Orchestra.
UPCOMING
January 16, 11:00am, & January 17, 7:30pm, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Louisville, KY
Louisville Orchestra, Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, Guest Harp
January 31, 8:00pm, Detroit Opera House, Detroit, MI
Symphonic PFunk: Celebrating the Music of Parliament Funkadelic, Principal Harp
February 3, 7:00pm, Wharton Center for the Arts, East Lansing, MI
MSU Symphony Band, World premiere by Kowal, Guest Harp
February 7, 7:00pm, MindaMusic Store and Gallery, Garland, TX
“Arpa Latina”: Showcase Performance and Workshop
February 8, 2:00pm, J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas, TX
Mu Phi Epsilon Recital, with violist Danny Jordan
February 9, TBD, Frisco High School, Frisco, TX
Recital & Workshop, with violist Danny Jordan
February 10, 7:30pm, Cook Recital Hall, East Lansing, MI
Faculty Recital, “Latin America & the Harp”
February 21, 7:30pm, Whiting Auditorium, Flint, MI
Flint Symphony, “American Frontiers”: Barber, Williams, Copland, and Still, Principal Harp
March 1, 2:30pm, March 5 & 7, 7:30pm, Detroit Opera House, Detroit, MI
Detroit Opera, Paul Ruders, The Handmaid’s Tale, Principal Harp
March 20, 12:00pm, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Romeo, MI
Lenten Music Series, Solo Recital
March 21, 7:30pm, Whiting Auditorium, Flint, MI
Flint Symphony, “Shadow and Light”: Tchaikovsky, Manfred Symphony, Principal Harp
April 3, 7:00pm, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Romeo, MI
Rutter, Requiem
April 18, 7:00pm, & April 19, 2:30pm, Detroit Opera House, Detroit, MI
Bugs at the Opera, Principal Harp
April 23, 7:30pm, Robin Theatre, Lansing, MI
Lansing Symphony, “LSO at the Robin”: Flute, viola, and harp chamber recital.
May 3, 5:00pm, Troy First United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI
MSU Harp Studio Outreach Recital
May 7 & 9, 8:00pm, Atlanta Symphony Hall, Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Symphony, Bernstein, Age of Anxiety, Guest Harp
May 16, 7:30pm, Whiting Auditorium, Flint, MI
Flint Symphony, “Mystery & Reverie”: Ravel, Piano Concerto for Left Hand & Daphnis et Chloé, Principal Harp
May 22 & 23, 8:00pm, & May 24, 3:00pm, Orchestra Hall, Detroit, MI
Detroit Symphony, Stravinsky, Chant du Rossignol, Guest Harp
June 1 & 2, Archway Gallery & Houston Hillel, Houston, TX
Harpisphere, Opening Recital and Guest Instructor
June 5, 10:45am, June 6, 8:00pm, & June 7, 3:00pm, Orchestra Hall, Detroit, MI
Detroit Symphony, Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier Suite, Guest Harp
Follow along on Instagram for frequent updates and posts, as well as insights from behind the harp!
@diaryofaharpist
LIVESTREAM – 2023 Rio Harp Festival
Obrigado, Brasil! It was an honor and pleasure to perform for the 2023 Rio Harp Festival, the largest harp festival in the world, alongside Elisabeth Remy Johnson. Thank you to Elisabeth and Sergio da Costa e Silva for the experiences, as well as the incredible audiences for the energizing feedback! Looking forward to 2024!
– Juan Riveros
Short Biography
Juan Riveros is one of a new generation of harpists bridging a variety of styles and artistic avenues, building audiences and fostering fresh appreciation for an instrument with ancient and diverse traditions. Riveros was appointed as the Instructor of Harp at Michigan State University in August 2024, serving as a member of the String Area faculty and teaching the College of Music’s harp students. A seasoned soloist, Riveros’ experience includes performances at the Rio Harp Festival (2023 - 2025), São Paulo Harp Festival, solo recitals through the American Harp Society’s Winner’s Outreach Program, and the 2019 and 2022 USA International Harp Competitions. Accolades include Award Winner in the 2022 Lyon & Healy Awards, Outstanding Instrumentalist in Harp at the 2022 and 2023 Sphinx SOPA Competitions, Award Winner in the 2020 Anne Adams Awards Competition, Third Prize in the Young Professional Division of the 2019 American Harp Society National Competition, and Grand Prize in the Lewisville Lake International Concerto Competition.
Riveros is the newly appointed Principal Harpist of the Detroit Opera Orchestra. Orchestral experience includes performances as Guest Principal Harp with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and symphony orchestras of Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, and Kalamazoo. Additional engagements include performances as Guest Harp with the Louisville Orchestra and symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Lansing, Saginaw Bay, and Midland.
In addition to his studio at Michigan State University, Riveros maintains an international studio of private harp students in both English and Spanish. In his instruction, Riveros is devoted to crafting constructive approaches to harp pedagogy and performance practice.
Riveros is currently completing a Ph.D. in Music Theory at the University of Michigan, researching Latin American modernism, musical unity, and hybridity in works by Ginastera, Villa-Lobos, and Chávez. Riveros holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Harp Performance and Music Theory from the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2023, Riveros received an International Postgraduate Certificate in Harp Performance and Research from the National University of the Arts (Argentina). Riveros studied under the tutelage of Alison Read, Joan Raeburn Holland, and Yolanda Kondonassis.
His two published works, “Concert Fantasy on Pajaro Campana” and “Danza No. 1”, are available for purchase through Lyon & Healy (www.harp.com) and Harp Column Music (www.harpcolumn.com/music/).
Riveros serves as the Diversity Coordinator for the American Harp Society (AHS), working with the Society members and leadership to provide representation and resources for the diverse membership of the Society. Additionally, Riveros serves as the Co-Chair of the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Committee.