Electronic Press Kit
Harpist / Arranger / Writer
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Short Biography
Singaporean harpist Lishan Tan enjoys a multifaceted career as a performer, arranger, writer and teacher. As the winner of the VI Mexico International Harp Competition, she made her debut with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional at Mexico City’s historical Palacio de Bellas Artes. Upon the invitation of Maestro Bruce Hangen, Lishan performed two sold-out shows as a soloist with Vista Philharmonic Orchestra in their opening concert of the 2022 season. She has also shared the stage with notable groups such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Silk Road Ensemble, the Borromeo String Quartet and The Beach Boys. As a founding member and resident arranger of Singapore’s premier harp quartet The Harp Quarterly, Lishan aims to push the boundaries of her instrument through her arrangements and workshops. Her arrangements range from Metallica to Debussy and her music has garnered millions of views online. She conducts Writing for the Harp workshops for composers and further collaborates with them to premiere and record new harp works. Currently, Lishan is also a freelance writer for international harp magazine HarpColumn. She holds a BMus from Royal College of Music, MM from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts at the New England Conservatory with BSO Principal Harpist Jessica Zhou, where she is the first harpist to be admitted to the doctoral program. When not thinking about music, Lishan can be found sipping coffee, reading or boxing.
Quotes and Press
I so enjoyed the Sunday performance of Ravel. You played beautifully and it seemed you had the complete cooperation of our players -- it was a very special performance.
— Bruce Hangen
Conductor of Vista Philharmonic Orchestra and Professor of Orchestral Studies at The Boston Conservatory
"Wonderful musicianship, extremely precise and always on point"
─ Jin Kim
Conductor of Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (Braintree, MA)
"Exceptional talent and mastery of her craft. Such an amazing musician, a rising star!"
─ Federico Chávez-Blanco
Award-Winning Composer for Film, TV and Concert Stage (Mexico)
"The slow movement came...with Tan Li Shan's harp and Joost Flach's cor anglais, conjuring a balm for the ears"
─ Chang Tou Liang
The Straits Times (Singapore)
The sold-out opening night performance…were brilliant…The moving opening composition, Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, featured harpist Li Shan Tan’s stunning solo performance.
─ Glenn Rifkin
The Arts Fuse (October 23, 2022)
"Li Shan is a superb musician with stylistic grace and elegance"
─ Peter Mansfield
Conductor of Cape Symphony (Cape Cod, MA)
"the gentlest of whispers and a hint of rhythm provided by Tan Li Shan's harp (showed) finesse of control"
─ Chang Tou Liang
The Straits Times (Singapore)
"An amazing harpist, Lishan's interpretation of each movement was perfect and the fast movements were so exciting!"
─ Paul Patterson
Composer and Manson Professor of Composition at Royal Academy of Music (London)
Testimonials