Biography
From the softest tones to the brightest chords, Ricky Rasura's harp performance reflects the exuberance of the pedal harp. An instrument which is rarely seen, much less heard, Ricky brings the harp to a wider audience.
Ricky's musical career started in El Paso, Texas where he played piano and violin at Morehead Junior High and Coronado High School, conductor Ida Steadman took the orchestra to new heights of excellence for a young ensemble. During Ricky's six years of school the orchestras performed at Carnegie Hall, the 500th Anniversary of Columbus Discovering America in the Bahamas, and Ricky was the featured piano soloist at the Mid Western Convention in Chicago.
Under the tutelage of Gail Barber, Ricky honed his artistry of the harp at Texas Tech University. After graduating with a Harp Performance degree in 1999, Ricky moved to Albuquerque, NM and was principle harpist for many orchestras throughout the Southwest; El Paso Symphony, Roswell Symphony, Abilene Symphony, Las Cruces Symphony. Ricky was also 2nd harpist for New Mexico Symphony and Santa Fe Symphony.
In 2002, Ricky joined the upstart symphonic pop band, The Polyphonic Spree. Ricky entered the harp into a new realm of performance; rock music. As the featured soloist of the Polyphonic Spree, Ricky has performed at numerous events where the harp is rarely found: Top of the Pops (British music show), Late Night with Jay Leno, the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, The UK Music Hall of Fame, The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, and Jimmy Kimmel Live just to name a few.
In 2007, Ricky performed at the prestige Walt Disney Hall with DJ Cut Chemist at an electronic music festival called Pravda. Ricky played an electric pedal harp, using multiple effects on the harp. The performance was so 'electrifying', that Ricky and Cut Chemist received the only standing ovation of night on their second song together.
Ricky currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Ricky is endorsed by Lyon and Healy Harp Makers to play their Style 2000 Electroacoustic harp exclusively. He performs with the Polyphonic Spree, The Golden State Pops Orchestra, and bands Circus Minor and Soul or System.
