She is a harpist born in Oregon who studied at the Juilliard School ,where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree, followed by earning her Master of Music degree a the University of Arizona. Participating in competitions she was a third place winner in Jerusalem at the Sixth International Harp Competition and in 1969 won second place in the Young Professional Division of the American Harp Society National Competition.
In 1991 she was awarded a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship and in 1993 she became a member of the Minnesota Orchestra as Acting Principal Harp and later Principal Harp.
During her time with the orchestra she toured with them nationally and internationally to Cuba and South Africa and performed as a soloist on many occasions. These occasions included with the flautist Sir James Galway in the premiere of “Concerto for Flute and Harp” by Lowell Liebermann in 1995. She also performed the world premiere of “Harp Concerto” by Einojuhanj Rautavaara with the orchestra in 2000. She retired from the orchestra after 27 years service in 2020.
Other orchestras she has worked with include the Minnesota Opera, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Dale Warland Singers, who she recorded six albums with.
As a chamber musician she performed in the Minnesota Orchestra’s chamber music series. She has also been involved with the Oregon Bach Festival and the Peninsula Music Festival and performed and recorded in Bell’ Alma Duo with the flautist Michelle Frisch.
Recordings she has performed on include Music from the Opera by Bell’ Alma Duo, December Stillness, Blue Wheat: A Harvest of American Folk Songs, Carols for Christmas, Christmas Echoes Vol. 1 and 2, Christmas with the Dale Warland Singers and Dominick Argento: Walden Pond by the Dale Warland Singers, Provocative by Johnny Gill and All for You and Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson along with several compilations.
In the field of musical education she became a Suzuki harp teacher trainer in 2014 and was voted onto the board of directors of the World Harp Congress. She has been a faculty member of Augsburg College, Bethel College, the College of St. Catherine, Macalester College, the University of Kansas, the University of Minnesota’s School of Music and the University of St. Thomas and at Studio Fidicina in Minneapolis where she gives private harp lessons.
Dale Warland Singers recordings
Three Nativity Carols: The Holly and the Ivy, This Endris Night, Wonder Tidings
Gothic 49208 (CD: Christmas with the Dale Warland Singers)
Arranger – Stephen Paulus
Conductor – Dale Warland
Oboe – Kathleen Robinson
Harp – Kathy Kienzie
Sources:
- https://harpcolumn.com/blog/kathy-kienzle-announces-retirement-from-minnesota-orchestra/
- https://www.conspirare.org/kathy-kienzle-harp/
- https://www.mprnews.org/story/2008/02/01/bellalma
- https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/kienz004
- https://suzukiassociation.org/people/kathy-kienzle/
- https://studiofidicina.com/faculty/
- https://www.augsburg.edu/faculty/kienzle/
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/442021-Kathy-Kienzle
- https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?artist_id=442021&ev=ab
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kathy-kienzle-mn0000034516#credits