About
Megan Conley is a Hawaii-based harpist and the founder of Ocean Music Action, a nonprofit dedicated to using music to promote action for the planet.
Megan had a musical upbringing in Austin, Texas, where she began harp lessons at the age of five. The daughter of Austin musician Danny Levin, she grew up playing music with her father and siblings in the family band. By the time she was 15 she had played on several albums of Austin musicians, including the Grammy Award-winning album ‘Los Super Seven.’
Megan received her Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music Performance from Rice University. In 2005, she was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France. In 2012, Megan won first place in the International Ima Hogg Concerto Competition, and subsequently performed the Ginastera Harp Concerto with the Houston Symphony.
Megan served as the Principal Harpist of the Houston Symphony from 2015-2022. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, she created a 6-video series for the symphony, ‘Mornings with Megan,’ which offers educational musical content for young children.
As a member of the chamber orchestra The Knights, Megan often performs in NYC, including regular engagements at Carnegie Hall. She has performed with the New York City Ballet, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Bang On a Can All-Stars, and the Sarasota Opera, as well as touring with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She also performed regularly as a substitute for the Broadway show 'The Fantasticks.'
Megan is the president and artistic director of Ocean Music Action (OMA), a nonprofit founded in 2021. This organization uses music to build community and inspire action to protect our oceans. OMA concerts are paired with volunteer activities, giving the musicians and audience opportunities to join together in helping the planet. Learn more at oceanmusicaction.org.
Megan lives in Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband, bassist Shawn Conley, and their young son.