Emily Rosner is a seasoned professional  soloist and small chamber musician as well as a founding member of the stunning girl band 'Zikora'. 

Her diverse approach to harp playing and improvisation has lead to a unique writing style that covers many genres such as folk, soul, funk, and electronic music.

Pushing the harp's vast tonal differences, she experiments with loops, effects and sound design using the sonic ingredients of the harps natural vibrations.

Emily has been honoured to perform for "Prime Minister Julia Gillard" at her reception in 2013. She has performed and recorded with numerous Australian favorites such as "Sunwrae", "Lisa Miller Band" and "Kate Ceberano" and has just completed an EP recording with her own band 'Zikora" produced by Aria winning producer 'Jimi Moroudis'.

Always keen to get involved in the unusual, Emily  has appeared on the "Hamish and Andy" show, performed as an artistic installation more than once and even performed for the unveiling of the latest Porche! 

Touring and festivals are the highlight of Emily's performance program and has toured 3 times with the "Sunwrae Ensemble" and performed at Port Fairy Music Festival, Anglesea Festival, Yackandanda Folk Festival, Darebin Music Feast and the Brisbane Music Festival. Check out the touring page for more information.

Emily has an established harp school called 'Angels on Strings' where she imparts her knowledge to the next generation of music makers and those who have come to realise their life's dream to play the harp.

A personal history………

I come from a very musical family. My father is a flamenco and classical guitarist, and my three sisters and I learned to play music from a young age. We all started with the violin and piano before learning instruments of our choice. When I was four years old we visited a man in prison who played the harp. I knew then it would be the instrument I’d play.

I was born in Adelaide in 1977, and have lived in Heidelberg Heights for ten years. Growing up, my family moved to Kangaroo island, returned to Adelaide and then moved to Saint Arnaud, north of Bendigo. There I felt isolated from the arts until I got a scholarship at University High School.

The prisoner who I saw playing was a Hungarian musician. He played in a trio with his wife and best friend, until he discovered their affair and killed them in a crime of passion. The prison contacted dad because the man wanted his music published and needed a composer’s help. Dad took us along and, being in a low-security area, the man was allowed to perform for us. Hungarian music is quite mournful already, but I think his regret was present in his song. I’ve reflected on that moment, and while I was too young to understand, something in me responded to his music.

I started with the harp at twelve, but living in Saint Arnaud, the only way to study was to drive to Melbourne for lessons every two months and do the theory as distance education. As a child, I went to 13 schools, and whenever we moved I’d write to my friends, trying to stay connected, but eventually we’d lose touch. We’ve lived in this house for 10 years, and have tried to give our daughter that stability that I didn’t have.

In high school, I was very driven to become a harpist, despite not having parental support after moving to Melbourne. Till then I had felt like a big fish in a small pond, and suddenly I was a small fish in a big pond. The standard was very high and having had an inconsistent development with the harp I always felt I was behind. Moving the harp around was hard too. I needed help from friends’ parents to drive it to school and had to leave it in the hall during classes, which didn’t amuse school staff.

When I finished high school I felt I wasn’t ready for university. My harp was very old, and I wasn’t confident about my skills. Now I realise I could have done it, but I just lacked the self-confidence. I ended up getting a job, met a guy, and life took me in a different direction. I sold my old harp, wanting to buy something I felt happy to play, but I still couldn’t afford a proper upgrade. I ended up having a 26 string lap harp, and while working in hospitality I started busking and playing at weddings with my tiny harp.

I am 42 and am only just getting to be recognised, to be booked with high-end groups, and getting paid what I should be paid. It’s been a long road. Recently I played a recital and afterwards, I was told by people how amazing I was, and this and that. Mum was there and she quietly said to me: “It takes forty years to become an overnight success.” And it’s so true. You spend so long building up, and then suddenly people say: “Oh, here you are!” Not seeing any of the sacrifices that were made.

Most musicians have this level they think they must reach before being worthy, and I’ve discovered that you never really get there, because once you get there you want to go higher. Eventually, you must be happy with where you are, and I’ve learned to be happy while still striving for more.

I’ve just finished a degree in composition and now want to teach young women to compose and work in production; only 10% of this industry are women and I want to be involved in changing that. I would also like to introduce people in remote areas to music they have no access to; I understand what that is like and it’d be my way of giving back.

Photographer: Eric Chow 'Chowie'

Musician: Emily Rosner

'Zikora's EP Launch' Thornbury Theatre Dec 2015