Dr. Johanna Wienholts

Biography

Johanna Wienholts is a celebrated harpist and educator at the University of Wisconsin’s Mead Witter School of Music. She has previously taught at Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Johanna is the principal harpist with the Madison Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. She has been featured as a soloist on Wisconsin Public Radio and participates in various chamber music festivals, including the Green Lake Chamber Music Festival and the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society. Her commitment to expanding the classical canon includes performances of new music and projects that integrate diverse cultural elements, such as the album of Iranian folk songs she recorded with violinist Ava Shadmani. Since relocating to Madison in 2017, she has developed a freelance career that follows performances across the United States and Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in classical harp performance from the University of Toronto and a graduate degree in performance from the Manhattan School of Music, enriched by her studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy under Joan Holland. Known for her warm teaching style, Johanna nurtures her students' unique musical voices while embracing the versatile nature of the harp. Outside of music, she enjoys creative pursuits such as sewing and painting, and spending time in her garden with her husband and rescue dog, Laney.

Research Interests