Cheryl Losey Feder is among the leading harpists of her generation, and now she is a Spartan. 

As assistant professor of harp in her first semester at the Michigan State University College of Music, Losey Feder brings a musical passport filled with countries where she’s performed all over the globe, including the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, Aspen Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Cabrillo Festival, and more. She has performed as both a concerto soloist and an orchestra harpist on several symphony and orchestra stages, and she is thrilled to be teaching at MSU. 

“It has always been a priority of mine to share my passion and experience with the next generation of harpists,” she said. “When I learned about the open position at MSU, I was particularly excited to join an institution that values individuality and excellence.”

The instrumentalist’s passion for the harp grew from a young age. She began playing at five years old, and what better place than a little town in Maine called Harpswell? 

“My mother had always wanted to play the harp and decided that I would instead,” she said. “I am forever grateful to her for tracking down an instrument, finding a teacher, and spending hours every week driving me to lessons and rehearsals.”

Those lessons paid off, and Losey Feder went on to complete Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has received top prizes in competitions, including the Alice Rosner Prize at the Munich International Competition, First Prize and Grandjany Prize in the American Harp Society’s National Solo Competition, and First Prize in the American String Teacher’s Association National Solo Competition. 

Together with her husband, cellist Abraham Feder of the Detroit Symphony, she concertizes with the Feder Duo. She has been a featured artist on the classical music station WCLV Cleveland, WUSF Florida, and in the PBS documentary Harp Dreams. Her debut solo record, A Story, earned her the John Ringling Towers Performing Artist Award. 

She joins a Strings Area faculty at MSU that includes expert performers and teachers Suren Bagratuni, cello; Dmitri Berlinsky, Yvonne Lam, and I-Fu Wang, violin; Eric Nowlin and Mike Chen, viola; and Kevin Brown, double bass. For Losey Feder, whether she is collaborating with colleagues, in the classroom at MSU, or on the stage at the Sydney Opera House or Carnegie Hall, the endless array of sounds of the harp keep her giving all that she can as a teacher and performer.

“The harp has limitless colors, sounds, extended techniques, and the ability to play multiple lines or voices at the same time,” she said. “There is a frequent misconception that the harp is always ‘pretty’ and is simply angelic. We can do so much more than that! The harp is an incredibly versatile instrument and can show the full range of musical expression.”

In the classroom, Losey Feder aims to help guide students along their musical journey, witnessing the special moment when students find their unique voice. As part of a talented faculty in a place with state-of-the-art facilities, ensemble performance opportunities for students, and academic prestige, she is proud to support the next generation of harpists. 

“I strive to cultivate the magical combination of technical aptitude, musical creativity, and personal expression,” she said. “In my own career, I have repeatedly seen the importance of artistic excellence, versatility, and integrity, and I help to foster this in my studio. With confidence in their craft, students are prepared for the myriad of opportunities available to harpists today.”