"Margot is no ordinary harpist." a fan from Vail, CO.

Artist's Statement:

"Although I enjoy dressing in a gown and playing 'normal' harp music, that's not what I'm best known for. My music has been influenced by country swing, jazz, blues, American folk music, traditional Celtic music and a general love of dancing with abandon to the latest pop music. I love so many types of music! Overall, the music I play touches my heart and soul and I hope it will touch yours, too." MJK

Bio:

Harp player Margot Krimmel brings creative musicianship to her work as a performer, teacher, composer, and freelancer in the Boulder and Denver area. As a solo performer, Krimmel has won diverse awards ranging from first place in jazz (Pop and Jazzfest; Tucson, AZ), first place in traditional music (Scottish Highland Festival; Estes Park), and third place in composition for Celtic harp (Rencontres Harpe Celtique, Dinan, France). Two of her compositions placed in the International New Century Harp Music competition 2007.

Her solo CD, EVER THE NEW TIME COMES, of original solo works for harp (released June 2020), is quickly garnishing accolades. Of the album, jazz pianist Art Lande says, "Her sense of touch, timing and color take the listener into the very personal worlds of her elegant compositions"  Ars Nova director, Thomas Morgan says, "an enrapturing collection from one of my favorite musicians. You'll move, lilt, dance... then stop in your tracks, enveloped by an astonishing depth of feeling and beauty."

Listen here to a short interview on Colorado Public Radio that aired Sept 15, 2020.

She has recently co-produced two CDs, Live at the Black Rose Acoustic Society with her duo, Gadbaw & Krimmel and  Next Sunday at Conor's a group effort with the Boulder Irish Session.

Krimmel’s Irish music duo, with singer/percussionist Beth Gadbaw, has performed across the United States and United Kingdom and has three CDs White Birds, Icy December and Live at the Black Rose. One of their originals, The Donkey and the Doves, has been chosen by Colorado Public Radio listeners as one of their top-50 favorite holiday carols for four years running. The duo was awarded a 2014 artistic residency at Caribou Ranch by Boulder County and premiered new pieces commissioned by the acclaimed Seattle choir Cora Voce in 2016.

As a freelance recording artist, Krimmel has been featured on over 30 CDs, including projects by Janet Feder, Jim Ratts and the Runaway Express, Robert Gass, and the Cherry Creek Chorale.
 
A native of Denver, Krimmel sang and played guitar in swing bands before taking up the harp. She began her harp career entertaining guests six nights a week at the Sonnenalp Resort in Vail, Colorado before moving to Boulder and expanding into teaching and composing. She has appeared from elegant venues like the Brown Palace in Denver, to down-to-earth folk music stages like Denver's Swallow Hill Music Hall, the Radio Room in Grand Junction CO and The Black Rose Acoustic Society in Colorado Springs. She has traveled and played internationally in Germany, France, Ireland and England.

She teaches Irish folk (lever) and pedal harp to youth and adult students, combining elements of Suzuki and Orff pedagogy with her own passion and inspiration. She has over 30 years experience teaching including 10 years teaching harp at Colorado Academy.

Private harp studies include teachers, Helen Hope (Denver Symphony), Sylvia Woods and Deborah Henson-Conant, as well as numerous Master classes and workshops with many and varied teachers.