Ella Harpstead is an emerging composer and arts professional known for crafting timely and emotionally-driven works. With a discerning ear and understanding of lifelong musician development, and as a longtime euphonium player herself, Harpstead primary writes for concert bands of all ages and abilities.

 

Harpstead's compositions and custom orchestrations have been performed by large and small ensembles including the Minnesota Symphonic Winds, St. Olaf Band, Edina and Northfield high school concert bands, the Bavarian Musikmeisters, and the Mivos Quartet. The Northfield High School concert band recently commissioned and premiered her latest original work, Desperate Measures, which is now available for performance.

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 "Your students and program will greatly benefit from the experience of bringing Desperate Measures to life."  –  Nahal Javan, Band Director at Northfield High School

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Concert bands currently lead the new music movement, and Harpstead is constantly inspired not only by film scores, minimalism, and the music of the late Romantic period and early 20th century, but with the works of her wind-writing contemporaries. Nature, travel, and current events provide additional inspiration, and Harpstead enjoys hikes with her dog, Rosie, to ruminate on ideas.​

 

Harpstead is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition and concentrations in German and Film Studies. Her primary composition instructors have included esteemed composer and conductor Dr. Timothy Mahr, as well as Dr. Yan Pang and Dr. Justin Merritt. In 2021, Harpstead was featured by YourClassicalMPR as an emerging composer. She has been active in the ColourFULL Music community and counts its founder, Jodie Blackshaw, as an artistic and personal inspiration. Harpstead was was a 2018 participant in The Walden School's Creative Musicians Retreat. She is a member of ASCAP.

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When she is not writing music, Harpstead is a producer and music programmer at Classical California. She previously worked in marketing for the sheet music self-publishing platform ArrangeMe, which is powered by Hal Leonard and Muse Group. Harpstead is also an accomplished arts writer and has contributed to Minnesota Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio, where she had the great privilege of interviewing Afa S. Dworkin (Sphinx Organization President) and trans activist and opera star Holden Madagame, among others. Her articles can be found here.​​​