Michelle Whitson Stone

Harpist, arranger, educator



If you like your harp music with a decidedly contemporary feel, you have landed in the right spot. For over thirty years, Michelle has navigated a unique path with the harp, pursuing a sophisticated, naturalistic style which lends itself to a repertoire that includes contemporary favorites as diverse as Diana Krall, Eric Clapton, the Beatles, Norah Jones and John Mayer. Long a favorite of Wedding and Event Planners, Michelle has turned her attention to creating pop harp arrangements and educating a new generation of harpists. Through her TEACHING STUDIO and POP ARRANGEMENTS, Michelle is bringing a fresh perspective and inspiration to student harpists of all ages.  


Just Released Jan. 2024

Intermediate pedal and lever arrangements of

Elton John's


YOUR SONG



Your Song Int. Pedal Harp Cover 2 - HD 1080p from Michelle Whitson Stone on Vimeo.


ABOUT

Michelle began piano instruction at the age of four and harp at the age of nine.  Though trained with a background based in classical harp technique and literature, she showed an early interest in popular music on the harp. Michelle studied music at the University of Kansas and upon graduation, moved to Los Angeles where she studied with Dr. Carol McLaughlin the aclaimed Professor of Harp at the University of Arizona. A student of world-renowned jazz harpist, Stella Castellucci, Whitson-Stone is also an award winning actress. Years of experience as an actress provided fertile ground for honing the gift of storytelling, which she brings to the harp through her arrangements of pop and jazz standards. 


A former award winner at the International Pop and Jazz Harpfest, Michelle is also the founder of Harpworks Music, which specializes in publishing Pop arrangements for Solo Harp. During her thirty-plus years as a harpist, she performed for many dignitaries and celebrities including Presidents Clinton, Ford, and Reagan, as well as Henry Mancini, Bob Hope and Quincy Jones. She is a veteran of numerous films and television shows.


TELEVISION AND FILM - 

Revenge - ABC, Man-up - ABC, Everybody Loves Raymond - CBS, Get Real - Fox Network, The Marrying Man - Buena Vista Pictures, Falcon Crest - CBS The Bold and The Beautiful - CBS, Runaway Father - Lorimar, Confessions of a Married Man - CBS


AWARDS AND HONORS - 

1999 Award Winner - Lyon and Healy Pop and Jazz Harp Competition. 2000 Spring Concert Artist - LA chapter of AHS, 2000 Featured Lecturer - University of Arizona Jazz Master Class, 1993 Santa Barbara Independent - Theatre Award Winner, Featured ARtist - New Talent Series - Lyon and Healy Harpfest 2001 and 2004.