Biography

Even a casual glance at the acclaimed Victoria, BC-based harpist Julia Cunningham’s resume is sure to elicit a double take. The list of artists Julia has performed with, the famous people she has played for, and the iconic venues she has graced the stages of reads like some kind of fantasy CV. Indeed, Julia’s career truly has been extraordinary thus far, but with the release of her 7th album, Songs from the Harp (2019, self-released), it continues to evolve. Following six beautiful instrumental releases (including one seasonal offering), as the culmination of a long-held dream Julia has pulled something of a one-eighty with the sublime Songs from the Harp, launching her as a jazz singer of quality and distinction. However, for a natural musician like Julia it’s an effortless stylist shift that suits her to a tee.
Hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Julia’s course in life was set as a youngster when, at her very first harp lesson, her seemingly instinctive teacher told her she could become a professional harpist. Having grown up in a home of music lovers and begun to play the piano as soon as she could reach the keys, it seems that Julia was always destined to become a musician – but those words from the harp teacher set the eager prairie girl on a career trajectory that would exceed her wildest dreams.

Having developed an eclectic taste in music early on, especially a deep-rooted passion for jazz, it was listening to old Peggy Lee albums featuring the harp that sparked her dream to one day record an album in that sultry, romantic style. All these years later, that dream has come true with the immaculately crafted Songs from the Harp. Featuring the absolute cream of Victoria’s jazz fraternity – as gathered for the project by lauded producer Joby Baker – the album is a gorgeous addition to the catalogue of dreamy late night listening.

On her long journey to Songs from the Harp Julia has certainly more than earned her stripes by receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria, a Master of Music degree from Yale University, and a Performance Diploma from the National Conservatory of Nice in France, where, as a recipient of a Canada Council of the Arts grant, she moved in 1998 to study with her mentor, Élisabeth Fontan-Binoche.

Following her years of study Julia’s career has blossomed to see her play in more than 20 nations, appearing on some of the most famous stages in the world: Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Royal Albert Hall, St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre; the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, and even – in front of Pope John Paul II – at the Vatican.

On her travels around the world Julia has appeared on Top of the Tops and, with Chrissie Hynde, on Later…with Jools Holland in the UK, and on US TV on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. She performed with the legendary Luciano Pavarotti many times, including at his two of his ‘Pavarotti & Friends’ benefit concerts in Modena, Italy, and played at Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Legends’ gala at her home in Montecito, California. Some of the countless private events the multi-award-winning Julia has appeared at include performing for Albert II, Prince of Monaco; Charles, Prince of Wales, and at the Cannes Film Festival. Julia’s orchestral collaborations include the Los Angeles Symphony, the Vancouver and Victoria Symphony Orchestras; Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana, the Cannes Philharmonic, Opera de Nice, the Chinese Broadcasting Orchestra, and the Kuala Lumpur Philharmonic. However, in terms of the path to Songs from the Harp, it was her four years touring with the soul music colossus Solomon Burke that truly upped the ante. As they travelled around the world, opening for such as The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison, “King Solomon” named Julia “The Soul Harpist” and actively encouraged her to sing.

Julia’s instrumental music combines the harmonic resources from her formal classical training, the open approach of a Celtic harper, and her years of touring in a soul-blues band with the absorption of a vast array of influences from the diverse cultures in which she has lived. As a result, Julia’s music spans many genres, yet remains distinctively her own throughout her CD catalogue: Ribbons of Love(2018); Harp Spa: Music for Meditation, Wellness & Peace (2015); Julia’s Memories of Christmas (2010); Mariposa (2009), and Peaceful Night (2006), all of which have received rave reviews from around the globe. Although a very different sound for Julia – one which few, yet including Solomon Burke – saw coming, Songs from the Harp is surely set to follow suit with widespread acclaim, marking another milestone in an already incredible career.