Adjunct Instructor of Music (Harp)
Director, Harp Ensemble
M.M., Indiana University
B.M., Indiana University
André Tarantiles is an Adjunct Instructor of Music at The College of New Jersey, where he teaches:
- MUS 201: Intermediate Private Harp
- MUS 301: Advanced Private Harp
- MUS 401: Advanced Private Harp
- MUS 229: Harp Ensemble
André Tarantiles has been referred to by The New York Times as “an expert harpist” and by the Newark Star Ledger as “clearly a virtuoso”. He received his BM and MM degrees in harp performance from Indiana University School of Music.
Mr. Tarantiles has concertized throughout the United States and has performed as soloist in all the major concert halls in New York City. He has appeared on national television accompanying opera stars Aprile Millo, Benita Valente, Renée Fleming, Heidi Grant-Murphy, Jennifer Larmore, Marcello Giordani, Susan Graham, Ruth Ann Swenson, Ramon Vargas, Christine Goerke and Joyce DiDonato .
Formerly Principal Harpist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City Opera National Company, Opera Orchestra of New York, New Jersey State Opera, Arizona Opera Wagner Festival and the Casals Festival, Mr. Tarantiles is currently Principal Harpist for the Philly Pops, Glimmerglass Festival, Center for Contemporary Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Riverside Symphonia, Princeton Symphony, and Festival Musical de Santo Domingo (2001-2017).
He has also performed in orchestras backing up headliners as diverse as Placido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Andrea Bocelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Jones, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, Roberta Flack, John Denver, Lucie Arnaz, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Patti Lupone, Natalie Merchant, Josh Groban, Gloria Estefan, Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Hudson and Rufus Wainright. He has toured with both Il Divo and Il Volo. His multi-faceted career has included stints at The Fantasticks (the world’s longest running musical), Radio City Music Hall, in multiple Broadway pits playing both harp and synthesizer, as staff harpist at the Papermill Playhouse and as a substitute in the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony. Mr. Tarantiles is featured on recordings for several labels and he is also the official harpist of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
He was honored to be invited to play several concerts as Principal Harpist with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico in San Juan and at the Kennedy Center. His performance of Mozart’s concerto for flute and harp was broadcast throughout Latin America on CER TV.
In addition to The College of New Jersey, Mr. Tarantiles is also currently a faculty member at Rutgers University, Montclair State University and Bryn Mawr College and maintains private studios in New York City and New Hope Pennsylvania.