Lizzie Steiner
Sound Lounge at Percy
1700 N Front St.
Philadelphia
Oct. 8, 2026
In 1966, a Philadelphia-born harpist named Ann Hobson Pilot arrived in Washington D.C. to join the National Symphony Orchestra. This was not only a great personal achievement for the 23-year-old Pilot. As the first Black principal for any instrument in an American Orchestra, Pilot had taken up a role that had been held by no other Black musician before her. A player of striking depth and skill, Hobson is a shining example for all harpists who have followed in the path that she cleared.
One such musician who is following in Pilot’s footsteps while imprinting her own is Philly-based harpist Elizabeth “Lizzie” Steiner. On Thursday night, Steiner hosted a listening session/concert for her fantastic new album Reluctant Princess. It was a packed house as musicians, writers, DJs and music lovers alike filed into the Sound Lounge at Percy for the event. Music historian and journalist Marcus Moore held down the DJing duties for the evening, spinning a nice selection of jazz gems ahead of the show. From there, the evening opened with a fireside interview between Steiner and respected Philly journalist Karas Lamb. Lamb and Steiner’s conversation found Lamb coaxing Steiner to share insights about her life, process and relationship to her instrument. The conversation also placed Steiner in a continuum of innovative Black women harpists like Pilot, Alice Coltrane, Dorthy Ashby as well as Steiner’s contemporaries like Brandee Younger.
From there, Steiner treated us to a short concert of selections from Reluctant Princess. Steiner’s playing filled the room with color as she showcased the harp’s beautiful timbre, melodic and harmonic capabilities. Two highlights of the set were Steiner’s covers of SWV’s ‘90s R&B classic “Rain” and Sade’s “Love Is Stronger Than Pride.” Following her set, attendees mingled and offered Steiner congratulations as Moore closed out by playing test pressings of Reluctant Princess. With the interview and the music, Lizzie Steiner’s release party not only provided some crucial background on the instrument's history; it allowed us to celebrate one of its best contemporary stewards.
