Abigail Stoner

Bitter Jester Music Festival Judge

Abigail Stoner is an active solo artist, concert harpist and pianist, and distinguished pedagogue based in the Chicago and west suburbs area. She has performed with numerous orchestras, ensembles, and pit orchestras including the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra, the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Vermillion Trio, Wheaton College JukeBox, Rising Star Theatreworks, Duo Dahlia, Orenda Trio, and many others. She has worked as a session artist, collaborating with artists such as singer/songwriter Casely, Ska punk band Streetlight Manifesto, and Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution.

Abigail is the current acting president of the Historical Harp Society and serves on the board of the American Harp Society as well.

Abigail has received numerous awards and scholarships. She was selected as a finalist in the 2014 Lyon & Healy Harp Auditions and Evaluations and was the 2014 recipient of the Gulbransen Merit Scholarship from the Wheaton College Conservatory and the 2019 & 2020 recipient of an Artistic Tuition Waiver from Northern Illinois University School of Music.

She was selected as a finalist in the 2014 Lyon & Healy Harp Auditions and Evaluations, and performed as a soloist on the Member’s Showcase at the 2016 Lyon & Healy Harp Day. She has been featured in the Italian web magazine Crono.news and has collaborated with Napoli Fashion on the Road. She appeared on CONNECTD Project’s 17th episode, and has performed at numerous venues in the Chicagoland area including the Museum of Science and Industry and Lyon & Healy Hall. She also frequently performs at Chicago's rated #1 hotel, The Langham Chicago.

Abigail enjoys passing on her musical knowledge to students on both harp and piano, of all levels and ages. She believes a strong musical foundation must be based on technique, theory, music history, and musicality. As such, she incorporates all aspects of music into her teaching methods, and tailors each lesson to her student’s strengths. Her students have gone on to win the highest level of mastery in school and community competitions and have been accepted into the top orchestras and bands at their schools.

Abigail has studied with Lillian Lau and Faye Seeman. Her orchestral and chamber coaches have included Marguerite Lynn Williams, Emily Granger, Dr. Daniel Sommerville, Maestro Brian Groner, and Dr. Benjamin Firer. She has performed in masterclasses in front of distinguished harpists such as Felice Pomeranz, Elizabeth Richter, Sarah Bullen, Gretchen Van Hoesen, and Alison Austin. She received her Bachelor’s in Music Performance - Harp from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in 2017, graduating Magna Cum Laude; and received her Master’s in Music Performance - Harp from Northern Illinois University School of Music in 2021. She is professionally affiliated with the American Harp Society, the Greater Chicago Chapter of the American Harp Society, the World Harp Congress, the Harp Column, and the American Musicological Society.

Recent past projects include lecture recitals on “Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro” and “Harp, viola, and flute trio music at the turn of the 20th century.” She worked on a debut solo album showcasing the work of Latin and Spanish inspired music and composers on the harp.

Her upcoming projects include New projects include publishing my thesis "Chamber Tone Poems at the Turn of the Twentieth Century: How the Harp Contributed to Their Development" and planning the Historical Harp Society 2025 Conference in conjunction with the Boston Early Music Festival!

Abigail is thrilled to be retuning to Bitter Jester again!