Carly Nelson is an accomplished harpist originally from Dallas, Texas, who has recently relocated from Austin to Chicago. With a versatile career spanning orchestral, chamber, and solo music, Carly is also deeply passionate about teaching.

Previously, Carly served as the Acting Principal Harpist for the Austin Opera, where she played for five seasons. Her recent projects include recording with the Dallas Wind Symphony on “John Williams at the Movies” and the University of Michigan Symphony Band’s “Reflections.” She has been a finalist in the Anne Adams Awards Competition and has received performance scholarships to prestigious institutions such as the University of Michigan, Rice University, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Eastern Music Festival, and Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory.

Carly’s experience extends to principal roles with the Oberlin Conservatory Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Shepherd School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and the University of Michigan’s University Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with several professional orchestras, including the San Antonio, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Baton Rouge, Victoria, Lansing, and Temple Symphonies. Additionally, Carly has participated in numerous esteemed summer festivals such as Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory, Interlochen Arts Camp, North Carolina School of the Arts, the Saratoga Harp Colony, Eastern Music Festival, Oberlin in Italy, Texas Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Orchestra Musicians.

Carly graduated as co-valedictorian from the Interlochen Arts Academy in 2007 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Harp Performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 2011. She continued her studies with a Master’s Degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University under Paula Page and completed her Specialist Degree in Harp Performance at the University of Michigan with Joan Raeburn Holland in 2015.

In addition to her performing career, Carly has taught harp in Round Rock Independent School District, and has served as a Harp Instructor at Rocky Mountain Summer Harp Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She has also been a Teaching Assistant at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan and spent time as the Resident Harpist at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

Now based in Chicago, Carly continues to share her expertise and enthusiasm for music through both performance and education