ABOUT
RIZA PRINTUP
harpist・composer/arranger・educator
Among many others, Riza Printup has recorded with acclaimed Jazz Trumpeter and husband Marcus Printup on Gentle Rain (2020), Desire (2013), A Time For Love (2011), Ballads All Night (2010), and Bird of Paradise (2007); Grammy nominated pianist and composer Kenny Werner No Beginning, No End; and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Chick Corea and the music of Mr. Corea. Ms. Printup has performed with the likes of the late great American jazz saxophonist and flautist, Frank Wess (featuring the music of legendary jazz harpist, Dorothy Ashby); virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma and jookin dance master Lil Buck (Saint-Saëns's classic 'Le Cygne’ for harp and cello); Lady Gaga (Elton John: I'm Still Standing - A Grammy Salute); and has been featured with Paquito D'Rivera in his presentations of Charlie Parker's classic, Bird With Strings at Jazz At Lincoln Center. In 2014, Riza joined world renown soprano Kathleen Battle in Ms. Battle's presentation of 'Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey' at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA and at Ms. Battle's magnificent return to the Metropolitan Opera House in 2016.
Ms. Printup began her undergraduate studies as a classical harpist at the Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington, IN under the instruction of Susan McDonald and in time pursued studies in jazz with Professor of Jazz, David Baker. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Music from Columbia College, Chicago, IL where she continued her studies in jazz. She later completed coursework toward a Master of Music from Georgia State University's School of Music under the tutelage of Elisabeth Remy Johnson. Other instructors include Dominique Piana, Linda Wood, Beverly Wesner-Hoehn, Deborah Henson-Conant, Stella Castellucci.
As an educator, Riza served as Director of Early Childhood Music and Orchestra at The Greater Atlanta Christian School (Atlanta, GA), Director of Strings at The Cicely Tyson School of Performing Arts (East Orange, NJ) and Instructor for the WeBop program at Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York, NY).
Her passion for education has taken her to author her first two children's books Theodore and Hazel and the Bird and The Great Big Spider & The Waterspout Blues, then develop I Have A Song Inside My Heart, a Jazz program and curriculum for early childhood and the K-5 General Music classroom.
Organizations Riza has partnered with include The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, WBGO, Midori & Friends, Homes For The Homeless, New Jersey Central Jazz Association and currently Jazz House Kids in engaging PreK and Elementary school students throughout surrounding communities. Her curriculum Jazz Explorers Unit 1: Eras of Jazz is in elementary schools around the US, Canada and Japan.
During the pandemic of 2020, Riza created a series of online courses for harpists interested in learning Jazz (now called Little Schoolhouse of Jazz for Harp). Students from across the US and Europe continue their studies through the online platform.
To advance their commitment to outreach, the Printups founded RiMarcable Music For Arts & Education, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The Printups also created RiMarcable Publications LLC through which they publish their arrangements and originals for Big Band, Jazz combos and solo harp, as well as their children's books,
Riza became a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the American Harp Society in 2022. In 2024, she was elected to serve as the President of the North Jersey Harp Chapter of the AHS.
