Biography
Marissa Knaub Avon is a professional harpist based in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, serving the greater Pittsburgh area and beyond. She is an accomplished performer and educator with extensive experience in orchestral, chamber, and solo performance, as well as private instruction. Known for her elegant sound and versatile repertoire, Marissa is a sought-after harpist for concerts, weddings, and special events throughout western Pennsylvania.
A dedicated orchestral musician, Marissa serves as principal harpist with the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Festival Opera. She has appeared as a featured soloist with organizations including Resonance Works, Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, and the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, and performs regularly with the Wheeling, Butler, and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestras. Her performance experience spans classical, sacred, and contemporary music, allowing her to bring a refined and engaging presence to a wide variety of settings.
In addition to her orchestral work, Marissa is an active chamber musician and co-founder of Trio Granato, a flute, cello, and harp ensemble that performs across western Pennsylvania. She has also recorded a solo album, Worship from the Harp, featuring original harp arrangements of traditional hymns, reflecting her passion for sacred music and expressive performance.
Marissa is equally dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of musicians. She serves on the faculty at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), where she teaches harp to students in grades 6 through 12, and maintains a private harp studio for students of all levels. Her previous teaching experience includes positions at Youngstown State University, Toccoa Falls College, and the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble in Atlanta. She currently serves as President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Harp Society.
Her formal training includes studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and Berklee College of Music. She studied with renowned harpists Yolanda Kondonassis, Jeanne Chalifoux, and Felice Pomeranz, and began playing the harp at age ten with Pittsburgh legendary harpist, Lucy Scandrett. Her musical foundation combines classical rigor with stylistic versatility, enabling her to connect with diverse audiences and students alike.
Marissa lives in Franklin Park with her husband, Bernie, their two sons, Marcus and Tristan, and their two dogs, Beau and Lola.
