About

 Jessica Wilder Hart Wilbee began playing the harp at age 8 in Salt Lake City, Utah studying under Julie G. Keyes (Orchestra at Temple Square).  While under Mrs. Keyes’ direction she participated in many competitions and festivals including the Utah State Fair and the American Harp Society Utah Chapter Festival held at Brigham Young University, where she continuously placed highly and earned high marks.  Jessica performed with the Utah Youth Symphony under the direction of Barbara Scowcroft (Utah Symphony) and held the position of Principal Harpist for the Murray Symphony while in middle and high school.  As a junior in high school Jessica began studying under Louise Vickerman (Utah Symphony).  While studying with Mrs. Vickerman she placed 1st at the Utah State Fair and won the title of Regional Music Sterling Scholar in 2009.  After high school Jessica was accepted into the Harp Program at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.  There she studied under the direction of Kathleen Bride.  While at Eastman, she was awarded a Performer’s Certificate in 2014.  In addition to her Harp Performance degree at Eastman (BM), Jessica earned a degree in Epidemiology from the University of Rochester (BA) and graduated with both degrees in 2015. 

Jessica held the position of Principal Harpist with the Lancaster Symphony in Lancaster, PA from 2015-2019. Currently, she performs with many orchestras, chamber groups, and Music Festivals from all over the New York and Pennsylvania area including The Syracuse Orchestra in Syracuse, NY, Ithaca College and Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Historically, Jessica has also played with groups such as: Erie Chamber Orchestra in Erie, PA, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes in Corning, NY, Binghamton Philharmonic and Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, NY, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY, and the Endless Mountain Music Festival in Wellsboro, PA.  Jessica also frequently performs as a soloist and is an active member of the B Sharp Music Club in Utica, NY, and is a member of the Convergence Harp Duo with her fellow harpist and sister Brittany Hart DeYoung (Lansing Symphony Orchestra).  

Jessica loves teaching and has been teaching young harp lovers since 2008. In addition to managing a thriving private studio, she began teaching at Cornell University as a Visiting Lecturer in the Fall of 2021. Shortly thereafter she accepted teaching positions at both Hamilton College (Spring 2022) and Syracuse University (Fall 2022).