Valerie Vonpechy

Valerie Vonpechy Whitcup (born 11 December 1947) is an American composer, harpist, and educator.

Vonpechy was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College and the University of Miami, and studied harp with Edward Vito, the principal harpist with Arturo Toscanini's NBC Orchestra. She married Peter Whitcup. Most of her work is published under the name "Vonpechy."

Vonpechy was a visiting professor at the University of Illinois before moving to Florida. She was the principal harpist of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra for 35 years, played for the Florida Grand Opera, and toured with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. She was the harp instructor at the University of Miami for 30 years.

A versatile musician, Vonpechy has toured or appeared live with Frank Sinatra, the Bee Gees, Tom Jones, the Moody Blues, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, KC and the Sunshine Band, Rick James, Tony Bennett, Lauryn Hill, and the Reggae Band. Billion Dollar Band (Good Sounds GS102) Do You Wanna Go Party Passion (Prelude Records – PRL 12176) Voyage (Albany Records TR1185)

Vonpechy's music is published by Elkin Music International, G. Schirmer Inc., and St. Francis Music Publications. Her compositions include:

Works Chamber

Dream and Csardas (string quartet, flute, clarinet and harp) Sweet Is My Ladye Love (unaccompanied harp) Two Pieces for Diatonic Harp

Vocal

"Cloudy" (text by Mary Ann Vonpechy; music by Valerie Vonpechy) Five Lullabies (flute, harp, and soprano)