If the harp makes you think of arpeggios bubbling in the background at fancy-dress balls, time to update what you know. The instrument has been at the heart of music-making around the world for over 5,000 years, lending its distinctive sound to worship services and rituals, social celebrations and dances. And in the hands of harpist Ashley Jackson, there’s nothing the instrument can’t do. At BAM, she joins resident artist and curator Helga Davis for an in-depth conversation, along with a performance featuring highlights from throughout her career.
Trained at the Juilliard School and Yale University, Jackson has the classical harp canon at her fingertips. Her scholarship has turned a spotlight on unsung pioneers like Margaret Bonds, and she has championed African American spirituals, Black composers, and the ecstatic spirit of Alice Coltrane onstage and on record. On her newest release, Cover Girl, Jackson honors some of the genre-defying artists who fired her sense of possibility, including Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, and the Cranberries.
Ensemble
Emi Ferguson, flute
Claire Chan, violin
Aundrey Mitchell, viola
Jessica Wang, cello
Trained at the Juilliard School and Yale University, Jackson has the classical harp canon at her fingertips. Her scholarship has turned a spotlight on unsung pioneers like Margaret Bonds, and she has championed African American spirituals, Black composers, and the ecstatic spirit of Alice Coltrane onstage and on record. On her newest release, Cover Girl, Jackson honors some of the genre-defying artists who fired her sense of possibility, including Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, and the Cranberries.
Ensemble
Emi Ferguson, flute
Claire Chan, violin
Aundrey Mitchell, viola
Jessica Wang, cello
UPCOMING Performances
VENUE
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets start at $30
Please note: All online and phone orders are subject to a $3 facility fee and an $4.50 handling fee per ticket. All orders at the box office are subject to a $3 facility fee per ticket.
BAM Members & Patrons receive 20% off tickets through April 15, 2026. No promo code needed.
Please note: All online and phone orders are subject to a $3 facility fee and an $4.50 handling fee per ticket. All orders at the box office are subject to a $3 facility fee per ticket.
BAM Members & Patrons receive 20% off tickets through April 15, 2026. No promo code needed.
All performances will adhere to protocols developed in accordance with New York State regulations and in consultation with medical professionals for the safety of our artists, audiences, and staff.
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Leadership support for BAM Access Programs provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
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