Heartdea13r w/ chr1stoph3r g0nda Kirsten Agresta-Copely: “Be true to yourself; you are a beautiful, imperfect Ruby.”
10 snips
Dec 11, 2025 Kirsten Agresta-Copely, a Grammy-nominated harpist and composer who blends classical, pop and New Age, recounts her harp beginnings and the tricky logistics of gigging with a large instrument. She explores themes of self-acceptance, grief, meditation and community that shape her music. Listeners hear about amplifying the harp, cross-genre collaborations and the calming, ambient style of her compositions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How A Childhood Troubadour Harp Launched Her Career
- Kirsten's mother bought a small troubadour (lever) harp and expected to play it, but five-year-old Kirsten sat down and claimed it as her own.
- She started formal lessons with a Detroit Symphony player and that early support launched her lifelong harp career.
Rent Harps For Short Tours To Avoid Damage
- When touring short-term, rent a harp locally and rely on a network of harpists to avoid shipping damage.
- Kirsten rents instruments for out-of-town gigs after a harp was damaged by airport handling on a flight to Israel.
Harps Are Heavy But Top Heavy Not Immovable
- A concert harp weighs about 80 pounds and is top-heavy due to long metal rods, making transport awkward but manageable with a dolly.
- Kirsten often wheels the harp through Brooklyn streets and parks it carefully against wind because it can blow over.