A professional harpist based in Houston, Hope Cowan frequently performs as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and event harpist.  She is sought after as a harp teacher, and teaches lessons to students of all ages. She is harp faculty at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. Please contact her if you have questions about booking her for weddings, events, concerts, or harp lessons.

Originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin, Ms. Cowan relocated to Houston, Texas in 2009 to pursue her music education.  She has a Master’s of Music degree from Rice University and a Bachelor’s of Music from the University of Houston, both under the instruction of Paula Page.

As an orchestral musician, Ms. Cowan is the principal harpist of the Symphony of Southeast Texas.  Formerly, she was the principal harpist of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with various symphonies including the Milwaukee, Mississippi, Corpus Christi, Victoria, San Antonio, Brazos Valley, Lake Charles, and Corpus Christi Symphonies. She has also performed with the Theater Under the Stars Houston, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Opera in the Heights, and Mercury Chamber Orchestra. In 2022 she appeared as a guest soloist with New Mexico State University Orchestra, performing the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto.

An avid chamber musician, Ms. Cowan is a founding member of the Deciduous Trio, Lynx Trio, and Canticle Duo.  She is also a core member of Monarch Chamber Players, an innovative, flexible chamber ensemble dedicated to bringing music to communities throughout Houston. Chamber music performances include appearances at the National Flute Association Convention and the American Harp Society Summer Institute. She has appeared as a guest artist on faculty recitals at Sul Ross State University, University of Texas El Paso, and San Angelo State University.

An advocate for contemporary chamber music, she has appeared with SYZGY: New Music at Rice, The Foundation for Modern Music, AURA, and MUSIQA.  Her recorded performance of Timothy Roy’s new work “Valentina V.” for solo harp, immersive electronic audio, and lighting was featured as a prize-winning composition at the 2022 SEAMUS National Conference and the Giga-Hertz Prize.  She has performed the work live at the Electronic Music Midwest Festival  and the LaTex Electronic Music Festival. She has been awarded grants from the American Harp Society to commission new works by Alejandro Basulto (Sonata for Flute/Harp/Viola) and Timothy Roy.

A committed and passionate teacher, Ms. Cowan teaches private lessons in her home in Katy, TX.  She is also harp faculty at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. She is a teaching artist for Young Audiences of Houston where she specializes in creating custom arts integration lessons, workshops, and performances. She is also alumna of the Da Camera Young Artist Program.  She frequently runs clinics and workshops in school districts all over the Houston area.  She is faculty for the Houston Summer Harp Festival, a summer camp for middle school and high school harpists held at Houston Christian University.  Ms. Cowan is committed to building and supporting the harp community; she currently serves as the webmaster for the Greater Houston Chapter of the American Harp Society and South Central Regional Director for the American Harp Society.