Elaine Humphreys Cook

Part-Time Instructor of Harp

ELAINE HUMPHREYS COOK performs as principal harp with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and played as auxiliary harpist with the Louisville Orchestra from 1978-2018. In addition to appearing as a soloist with both, she has been featured in performances with the Evansville Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. She has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Columbus Symphony, as well as orchestras in California and at the Aspen Music Festival.

She has performed under the baton of maestros James Levine, Eugene Ormandy, Seiji Ozawa, and Gunther Schuller. As a recording artist, Ms. Cook appears on the Pro Organo label with the Lexington Christ Church Girls Choir in Dancing Day by John Rutter and A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. She has performed in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, New York City, Maine, Georgia, Missouri, Colorado, California, China, and has been awarded Community Arts Development Grants from the Lexington Arts and Cultural Council to present programs for underserved Retirement Centers.

Elaine is Part Time Instructor in Harp and Harp Ensemble at the University of Kentucky and has served on faculties of Centre College, Lexington Talent Education Association, University of Kentucky, and Bellarmine University. Harp studies include work with Isabelle Perin, Caitriona Yeats, Gillian Sella Benet, Marcella DeCray, Alice Chalifoux, Edward Druzinsky, Elizabeth Cifani, and Susann McDonald. Elaine holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Master of Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, both in Harp Performance. She has registered Suzuki teacher training courses in both harp and violin, books 1-4.

More recently, Elaine has pursued World Music experience in appreciation for Far East cultures including China and Indonesia. She has studied Chinese with Maria Han, Chinese and Tai Chi at the UK Confucius Institute, Erhu with Dr. Kuo-Huang Han, has performed with the UK Chinese Ensemble and the UK Gamelan. She also practices Yoga at the Shambala Center and has trained in a variety of Martial Arts including Shotokan Karate, Aikido, Tai Chi, and medaled Bronze in Ba Gua at the 2023 Bluegrass Games Martial Arts Division.

Her family has made its way in music for generations: composers, music critics, symphony members of orchestras in Louisville, Detroit and Cincinnati.
Elaine has been featured regularly at Spindletop Hall, The Lexington Club, Idle Hour Country Club, Campbell House, Joseph Beth Booksellers and many retired living centers. She has played for events at the Galt House, The Seelbach Hotel, Bell Events Center, Marriott, Embassy Suites, Radisson, Hyatt, Castle Post, Bodley-Bullock House, and venues throughout Central Kentucky, and in the Greater Cincinnati area.