Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we talk with Grammy-nominated harpist, composer, innovator, educator, and coach Deborah Henson-Conant—a visionary artist who has redefined the harp for modern audiences.
With decades of international acclaim, Deborah has built an extraordinary career as a live performer, composer, and musical pioneer, including the invention of her own body harp, expanding the expressive and physical possibilities of the instrument. She has educated and coached hundreds of musicians across the United States and abroad, influencing generations of artists.
We dive into her powerful collaboration with Ukrainian bandura virtuoso Iryna Lytvynenko, which led to the world premiere of Deborah’s Bandura Concerto in Kyiv, Ukraine, broadcast on Ukrainian national television on November 19, 2025. This historic performance symbolized resilience, unity, and the life-affirming force of music amid war, made possible through Deborah’s Legacy Bridge Project, which connects composers with sponsors to remove financial barriers to new works.
For over three decades, Deborah has mesmerized audiences throughout the US and Europe. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore her career, creative philosophy, this landmark project, and what it means to make meaningful art in the modern world. Enjoy this interview.
More Deborah:
https://www.hipharp.com/
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