Melinda Zak, winner of the Houston Symphony League's 1991 Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition, made her debut with music director Christoph Eschenbach. She was the Principal Harp for the State of Mexico Orchestra with conductor Enrique Batiz from 1992 through 1998. The San Diego Union-Tribune writes, "Henriette Renie's Concerto in C Minor (1901) is a competent piece, showing the influence of both Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saens. This concerto revels in virtuosity. Soloist Melinda Zak played so many notes, so rapidly, with such command and heroic passion..."

“Zak gave a zestful, confident performance of the Harp Concerto by Argentina-born composer Alberto Ginastera.”
Houston Chronicle

“Harpist Melinda Zak, winner of the Houston Symphony League’s 1991 Ima Hogg National Young Artist Audition, made her debut with music director Christopher Eschenbach and the orchestra in a disciplined, strongly profiled performance of the Ginastera Harp Concerto.”
The Houston Post

“Henriette Renie’s Concerto in C minor (1901) is a competent piece, showing the influence of both Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saens. This concerto revels in virtuosity. Soloist Melinda Zak played so many notes, so rapidly, with such command and heroic passion....”
The San Diego Union-Tribune

“Ginastera’s composition fell victim to the rococo fallacy — it seemed to be embellishment without purpose. Wholly evocative music tends in this direction, but it needn’t fall over the edge. Zak’s performance of it was bold and proficient.”
Corpus Christi Caller Times

ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE

1992-1998 Principal Harp, State of Mexico Orchestra, Enrique Batiz, conductor

1992-1998 Principal and second harp (acting replacement), Filarmonica de Queretaro, Filarmonica de Jalisco, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquesta Filarmonica de la UNAM

1984-1985 Principal Harp, University of Arizona Opera and Symphony
1984-1985 Principal Harp, Lyric Opera Theatre of Phoenix

PERFORMANCES

07/1999 Invitation to perform at the World Harp Congress in Prague, featured concerto soloist

11/1996 Eduardo Angulo’s Harp Concerto, La Orquesta de San Angel, Roman
Revueltas, conductor

12/1992 Ginastera Concerto, La Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico, Enrique Batiz, conductor

10/1992 Ginastera Concerto, The Corpus Christi Symphony, Frank Collura, conductor

06/1992 Renie Concerto, Featured performer at the San Diego National Conference of the American Harp Society, Joann Falletta, conductor

06/1991 Ginastera Concerto, The Houston Symphony, Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Additionally, solo and chamber music recitals in the United States and Mexico.

AWARDS AND HONORS

1991 1st prize, Ima Hogg National Young Artist Audition
1991 1st prize, Corpus Christi String Competition
1990 1st prize, ASTA National Solo Competition, Harp division
1989 1st prize, Kingsville Young Performers Competition
1988 1st prize, Phoenix Chamber Society Competition
1988 1st prize, Ruth Lorraine Close Award
1986 1st prize, Ruth Lorraine Close Award

RECORDINGS

2000 Eduardo Angulo’s Quartet for Harp and Strings, Urtext Label

1994 The Works of Carlos Chavez, La Orquesta Sinfonica

1992 Verdi Overtures and Preludes, La Orquesta Sinfonica,
Musica Mexicana

1989 Harpfusion, The University of Arizona Harp Ensemble

EDUCATION

University of Arizona — Bachelor’s Degree in Music, 1988
Carrol McLaughlin, Harp Professor