Full Biography

​Harpist Jacqueline Pollauf is known for her exquisite musicianship in performance, dedication to teaching, and beautifully crafted compositions. Performance highlights include Jacqueline’s premiere of a new work for voice and harp at Carnegie Hall, solo recitals at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D. C. and the American Harp Society Summer Institute in Los Angeles, as well as performances at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and the World Harp Congress in Vancouver, Canada. Jacqueline has also served on an expert teaching panel at the Atlanta Harp Festival and has published several notable exercise books on harp techniques, from harmonics to glissandos. Her most recent recording, Beau Soir, with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra principal cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski, was lauded as “utter perfection” (The Harp Column).

​

Jacqueline has made concerto appearances with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra; the Foundation for Modern Music in Houston, Texas; the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra; and the Newark Symphony Orchestra, among others. As a solo recitalist and chamber musician, Jacqueline has performed at venues including the Cosmos Club in Washington D.C.; Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida; the Cathedral of Mary our Queen in Baltimore, Maryland; Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan; and American University in Washington, D.C. She has performed on numerous concert series, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Music by Candlelight, The Spire Series, the Livewire New Music Series and Music in the Valley. Jacqueline also enjoys interacting with audiences in more relaxed and intimate settings and frequently gives performances in libraries and community centers.

​

Jacqueline has recorded for the Naxos, New Focus, and Ravello Records labels, and her work can be found on all of the major streaming platforms. Her album Voyage, a recording of avant-garde harp and saxophone duos with saxophonist Noah Getz, was praised for its “nuanced style and impressive technique” (The Sybaritic Singer). Additional albums include Songs and Dreams for solo harp, featuring Jacqueline’s own compositions and transcriptions; Music from Three Continents with the Scottish Voices ensemble of Glasgow, Scotland; and Bernard Herrmann with the Post Classical Ensemble of Washington D.C.​

​

Along with flutist Marcia McHugh and violist Karin Brown, Jacqueline appears as part of Trio Sirènes, known for their “exciting playing” (Washington Classical Review), with regular performances throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition, she has performed with a wide array of ensembles, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington D.C.), the Scottish Voices (Glasgow, Scotland), the Post Classical Ensemble (Washington D.C.), the Choir of Clare College (Cambridge, UK), the National Gallery of Art New Music Ensemble (Washington D.C.), Opera Baltimore, and the National Philharmonic (Washington D.C.), among others.

​

A dedicated composer and arranger, Jacqueline’s most recent publication is Choral Repertoire: Harp Parts. Hailed by The Harp Column as a “valuable resource” and a “must--have addition to your library”, the book includes her editions of standard harp parts from choral works alongside her transcription of a work by Lili Boulanger. Jacqueline is also known for her series of exercise books focusing on individual harp techniques, including Pedal Exercises for the Harp, commended as an “absolute gem” by The Harp Column Podcast. Additional works from Jacqueline include solo and chamber pieces from student through professional levels. Her works are available through Lyon and Healy, Sylvia Woods Harp Center, Harp Column Music, Oakway Studios, The Harp Studio, the Atlanta Harp Center, and the Virginia Harp Center. In 2025, she was a featured composer of the month for Harp Column Music.

​

Jacqueline has been recognized with numerous honors including Creativity Grants and Individual Artist Awards from the Maryland State Arts Council, a Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant, an American Composers Forum Encore Grant, and an American Harp Society Grant. She has given presentations and workshops for the Atlanta Harp Festival, Hangin’ with the Harp, the Puerto Rico Harp Chapter, and the Baltimore Composers Forum. She has published articles in American Harp Journal, American String Teacher, and Harp Column magazine. She served on the editorial board for American String Teacher from 2018–2026.

​

Jacqueline is on the faculties of the Baltimore School for the Arts and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is the founder and director of the Baltimore Harp Camp. A sought-after teacher, she works with select students from a wide range of geographic areas in her private studio. She has presented masterclasses at Florida State University, Salisbury University, and Levine Music and has served as a guest conductor for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra Harp Ensemble. Her students have auditioned successfully for the Maryland All State Senior and Junior Orchestras and for many summer programs including Interlochen Arts Camp, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar.

​

An advocate for sharing the harp widely, Jacqueline maintains a highly regarded YouTube channel, where she regularly posts performances, instructional videos, and harp maintenance and repair videos. She also maintains an informational harp website, harpinsideout.com, with a wealth of resources for harpists and aspiring harpists. She serves as president of the Baltimore Chapter of the American Harp Society and holds Master and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory. She resides in Baltimore, Maryland. 

​