reviews

San Francisco Chronicle

“Katherine Siochi, the orchestra’s newly hired principal harpist, adorned the finale with bits of fine-tuned filigree.”

–Joshua Kosman, March 14, 2024, “Esa-Pekka Salonen shows S.F. Symphony audiences what they’ll be missing”

ArtsSF

“Already, the old order was giving way to new. Three chairs of principals were reoriented, now featuring Yubeen Kim at flute, and the exquisite harpist Katherine Siochi.”

–Paul Hertelendy, January 27, 2024, “MTT/GUSTAV: AN ENDEARING LOVE FEST“

Seen and Heard International

“As for subtlety, that is what characterized the famous Adagietto, which found an ideal tempo to convey the music’s languor and kept an underlying pulse to stir the emotions. Katherine Siochi, the orchestra’s new principal harpist, contributed elegant accents as the string sound seemed to float weightlessly.”

–Harvey Steiman, January 27, 2024, “Tilson Thomas and San Francisco Symphony’s refined, superbly focused Mahler on an emotional evening”

San Francisco Chronicle

“And as always, the famous Adagietto movement, with its luminous, blurred string harmonies and pointed harp commentary elegantly rendered by the orchestra’s new principal, Katherine Siochi, provided an interlude of otherworldly respite.”

–Joshua Kosman, January 26, 2024, “Michael Tilson Thomas bids a bittersweet farewell with — of course — Mahler”

Bachtrack

“And what an Adagietto it was! Tilson Thomas encouraged the strings to draw out phrases, and they happily complied, as if not wanting the moment to end. Katherine Siochi’s harp studded the movement like teardrops.“

–Cameron Kelsall, January 26, 2024, “Hail and farewell: MTT’s last Mahler in San Francisco”

San Francisco Chronicle

“[Yubeen] Kim had several occasions to step to the fore during the Shostakovich as well, including a delicate passage in the symphony’s third movement which he shared with his fellow rookie, principal harpist Katherine Siochi. The two of them sounded wonderfully simpatico.”

–Joshua Kosman, January 12, 2024, “S.F. Symphony’s guest conductor leads a brisk, athletic triumph”

Spinning Platters

“A lot of the heavy lifting, however, came from the harpist Katherine Siochi. There was a moment towards the end of ‘Explosions’ where Goulding found herself driven to ‘air-harp;’ it was so infectious. Later in the set, Siochi blew the roof off the lead riff of ‘Lights,’ turning the song into the disco anthem Steve Reich wishes he could’ve composed.”

–Dakin Hardwick, November 28, 2023, “Ellie Goulding with SF Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall”

St. Paul Pioneer Press

“While not specifically themed around spring, Ravel’s ‘Mother Goose’ has elements of growing things and the natural world, including an enchanted garden. Like Boulanger’s work, the piece incorporates a robust harp part, played excellently by Katherine Siochi, as well as the chiming reverberation of the celesta.”

–Sheila Regan, October 20, 2022, “In debut with Minnesota Orchestra, Søndergård pulls out all the stops”

Chicago Sun-Times

“Deserving particular note was guest principal harpist Katherine Siochi from the Kansas City Symphony, who drew a well-deserved sustained ovation after the Suite from ‘Swan Lake.’ She delivered solos in both suites that were graceful and transporting.”

–Kyle MacMillan, January 21, 2022, “Oldies but goodies are reborn via masterful interpretations by the CSO, Riccardo Muti”

Chicago Classical Review

“As Muti mentioned in his opening remarks, there was heavy lifting to be done by a number of front desk players. Katherine Siochi from the Kansas City Symphony was guest principal harp, and seemed to fit in seamlessly, subtly adding to tutti textures and contributing graceful cadenzas.”

–Tim Sawyier, January 21, 2022, “Muti leads CSO in a belated, balletic New Year’s Day program”

WTTW (Chicago PBS)

“The adagio that follows features a long, dream-inducing harp solo exquisitely played by this week’s guest artist, Katherine Siochi, principal harp of the Kansas City Symphony.”

–Hedy Weiss, January 21, 2022, “CSO Boldly Explores Tchaikovsky Scores Inextricably Linked to Ballet”

Chicago On the Aisle

“Concertmaster Robert Chen and principal cello John Sharp joined guest harpist Katherine Siochi, principal of the Kansas City Philharmonic [sic], in playing of radiant intimacy.”

–Lawrence B. Johnson, January 21, 2022, “Muti ladles some whipped cream Vienna-style at ‘New Year’ concert for CSO’s hardy faithful”

Bachtrack

“The orchestra, under the baton of Carlo Montanaro, played well, with verve and pace; there was a particularly lovely harp solo in Act 1.”

–Hilary Stroh, March 9, 2020, “Lucia and the Lairds: symbolically rich staging for Lyric Opera of Kansas City”

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“A beguiling harp solo, ‘Bariolage’ by Elliot Carter, launched the concert. Harpist Katherine Siochi gave a stunning performance of what was also clearly an extremely demanding score. Siochi displayed quick aggression and wit in her playing along with the ethereal beauty for which the harp is known.”

–Gayle Williams, March 5, 2019, “‘Lyre of Orpheus’ is another success for enSRQ”

Broadway World

“Elaborating on their wide repertoire of playful and elegant traditional tunes, intricate pieces, jazzy flair, and featuring many of their gifted musicians such as Katherine Siochi on harp . . . this concert had something for everyone.”

–Carolan Trbovich, December 9, 2018, "Review: 'Tis The Season at Sarasota Orchestra"

Your Observer Sarasota

“The musical and emotional highlight of the evening was Bright Sheng’s charming and daunting harp concerto “Never Far Away,” performed by harpist Katherine Siochi, who conquered this piece with all the ease and elan of a walk in the woods. From endless harmonics, pedal slides and percussive noises to paper between the strings, the music, spirit and humor of the composer were so beautifully handled by Siochi that the audience was completely under her spell.”

–Edward Alley, October 1, 2018, “Sarasota Orchestra opens Discoveries series with standing ovation”

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“Clearly a talent, Siochi commanded the distinctive Chinese lilt and lyricism in the folk song-inspired score . . . Siochi held the character of Moonlight Shadow’s wistful maiden with delicacy and the occasional extended technique such as sweeping upward on a string for a haunting harmonic effect. With a prepared harp (ribbon threaded through the strings) and the full orchestral array, shards of colorful musical fragments glittered kaleidoscopically . . . this was a remarkable performance.”

–Gayle Williams, September 30, 2018, “Harpist provides thrills in opening ‘Discoveries’ concert”

Your Observer Sarasota

“…the harp indeed shines in this piece, which is a sheer joy for everyone. Siochi, new to the orchestra this season, showed a marvelous technique and mastery of her instrument in what was a lively performance all around.”

–Edward Alley, January 22, 2018, “Another week of musical feasts for Sarasota”

Your Observer Sarasota

“The adagietto opening of the third section is really a gorgeous love song, with Mahler at his romantic Wagnerian best in melody, phrasing and climaxes, and it was beautifully played by the strings and harpist Katherine Siochi.”

–Edward Alley, November 13, 2017, “Masterworks 1 is an orchestral triumph”

The New York Times

“In the second movement, the harpist (here, the excellent Katherine Siochi), as a modern echo of the lute, plucks out Binchois’s sinuous melody.”

–Zachary Woolfe, April 7, 2014, “A Maximalist Evening, Both Earthy and Elegiac”

Photo by Chen Zhao