Ellie Yamanaka

Ellie Yamanaka (she/her) is a freelance harpist based in Seattle, Washington who regularly performs with ensembles across the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West as an acoustic and electric harpist. She earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently principal harp of Everett Philharmonic, Great Falls Symphony, and a member of The Sound Ensemble.

As a freelancer, she has performed with many ensembles, including Auburn Symphony, Bremerton WestSound Symphony, Density512, Everett Chorale, Federal Way Symphony, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, North Corner Chamber Orchestra (NOCCO), Northwest Mahler Festival, Olympia Symphony, Orcas Choral Society, Philharmonia Northwest, Port Angeles Symphony, Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, Rainier Symphony, Saratoga Orchestra, Seattle Festival Orchestra, Seattle Modern Orchestra, Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, Seattle Pro Musica, Solstice Symphony Orchestra, Songs of Black Folk Orchestra, Spokane Symphony, Symphony Tacoma, Tacoma City Ballet Orchestra, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Opera, Theatre Battery, Washington Wind Symphony, Wenatchee Valley Symphony, and Yakima Symphony.

Ellie is passionate about environmental and climate justice, and whenever possible curates her creative output with a desire to create experiences that bring together music and environmentalism.