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California Institute of the Arts

Alison Bjorkedal

Pronouns: The Herb Alpert School of Music

Faculty, Instrumental Arts: Harp

Alison Bjorkedal Headshot
Email address: abjorkedal@calarts.edu
Phone number: 661-253-7816
Office address:
B322
California Institute of the Arts
24700 McBean Parkway
Valencia, California 91355
Degrees:
  • PhD
    Musical Arts
  • MMus
    Harp Performance, USC Thornton School of Music
  • BM
    University of Oregon

Named “excellent player” and an “enterprising young harpist” by the Los Angeles Times, Alison Bjorkedal is a GRAMMY award-winning musician who joined the faculty of CalArts in 2016. 

She is a member of Southwest Chamber Music, Golden State Pops Orchestra and MUSE/IQUE and performs with the San Diego Symphony, Pasadena Symphony/Pops Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony, wildUP, Jacaranda Chamber Music, Opera Santa Barbara and Long Beach Opera.

A proponent of new music, she has given world and US premieres of music by composers including William Kraft, Anne LeBaron, Lei Liang, Gabriela Ortiz, Ton That Thiet, Nguyen Thien Dao, and Unsuk Chin. Her recordings feature the chamber music of William Kraft, Carlos Chavez, Lou Harrison, John Luther Adams and Jeffrey Holmes.

In addition to the harp, Alison plays the Kithara (an instrument created by composer Harry Partch) with LA-based ensemble Partch. The ensemble’s 2014 recording Plectra and Percussion Dances took home the 2014 GRAMMY for Best Classical Compendium.

Alison holds Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in harp performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree (magna cum laude) with a Business minor from the University of Oregon.