Nuiko Wadden will join the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory (her alma mater) as an assistant professor of harp, beginning in the fall of 2026. Wadden says in a press release that she brings teaching insights from her varied career, including orchestral and chamber work. “I look forward to preparing students to say yes with confidence to any opportunity that comes along,” she says.
“It will be wonderful to have Nuiko join the faculty as our new professor of harp,” says professor of conducting Timothy Weiss. “She brings an exceptional combination of artistry, a broad range of professional experience across musical genres, and outstanding pedagogical and mentorship skills. I’m confident she will build a strong studio in which students feel fully supported and in excellent hands with a truly great teacher.”
The appointment is a return to Wadden’s Oberlin roots. She graduated from the school in 2002 with a degree in harp performance and has returned to campus to work with students. “As I get further in time away from my experience at Oberlin, I realize even more what a unique place it is,” Wadden says. “When I spent a week at Oberlin with the International Contemporary Ensemble [in spring 2025], I was delighted and impressed by not only the preparation students had done, but also the energy and engagement they brought to the experience. That’s exciting and invigorating, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Wadden is principal harp of the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet orchestras and the Des Moines Metro Opera. She also performs as a concerto soloist, is a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble and the Pittsburgh-based Kassia Ensemble, and serves as a substitute harpist for the Pittsburgh Symphony. Wadden says she is an avid proponent of contemporary music, and she frequently performs world premieres of both solo and chamber works.
