A harpist of pedigree, 70
RIPWe received late notification of the death of Deborah Fleisher, daughter of the late pianist Leon Fleisher and scion of a prolific musical lineage, as her sister Leah recalls:
Deborah Fleisher (December 3, 1953 – Sept 29, 2024), a powerful and expressive Miami concert harpist, graced the music world for over six decades, leaving an indelible mark across genres and generations. Born in New York City into a famous musical family, her journey as a third-generation harpist unfolded into a captivating tale of dedication, versatility, and artistry.
Fleisher is the daughter of legendary pianist Leon Fleisher, and Dorothy “Dot” Druzinsky. Her grandparents, Nettie and Louis Druzinsky, were both storied musicians. Her uncle Edward Druzinsky was the principal harpist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for four decades. …
Over the course of her career Deborah held principal positions with the Baltimore Opera, Delaware Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, Florida Sunshine Pops, Boca Raton Symphonia, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Orchestra Miami, Maryland Lyric Opera and for many years with the Miami City Ballet.
R.I.P. What a family of musicians. Not mentioned above is her brother, Dickie, harpist of the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic, and his wife Kayo Ishimaru, harpist with the Jacksonville Symphony.
May she rest in peace. What a powerful artist. Miami City Ballet was so fortunate to have her in our orchestra. We will all miss her.
I had the pleasure of collaborating with her a few times in the early 1980s. Delightful colleague and powerful musician. May her name be a blessing.