Cristina Montes Mateo is the new principal harpist of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (HBO). She was appointed by the HBO’s principal conductor Thomas Wilkins after three screened rounds of auditions on March 18 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
“As a new member of the HBO, I am looking forward to playing with an incredible variety of distinguished artists from all genres of music and the world of entertainment,” Montes Mateo says. “The repertoire of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is as diverse as Hollywood itself, and in a single season, the orchestra may perform everything from Broadway favorites to film music, pop music to jazz, and classical music to world premieres by living composers. Last season, the orchestra joined [artists such as] John Legend [and] the Beach Boys, to name a few. In essence, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra does it all, and that is what I love the most.”
Originally from Spain, Montes Mateo was appointed principal harpist of the “Les Arts” Opera Orchestra in Valencia (Spain) in 2009 by Lorin Maazel, then musical director. Also playing under conductors Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Chailly, she served as the orchestra’s principal harpist for over a decade as well as the harp professor at Valencia’s Conservatory.
Learn more about Montes Mateo on her website.
