Lenaé A. Harris, aka Cataclysmic Sounds, is a highly sought after force in the music industry. The Grammy nominated composer, producer, cellist, and pianist was born and raised in Chicago, IL.
Her CD credits (as a cellist, keyboardist, arranger and/or producer) include: Sony Release: Hang on Mike, Sparkle, and Unexpected Traffic (Candy Butchers: Hang on Mike), Koch Records releases: Get Live and Anything You Ask For (The Game), Family Feud (The Dayton Family), and Calliope for (C-Murder: The Tru Story). Additional credits include: Whole New Level, Sometimes, Move, Different Than The Day Before (Meet Lee), 2011 Grammy Nominated string arrangement for Way I Feel (Russell Taylor: Confessional), Misguided, I Know What You Are Talking About (Jonah Smith: Lights On), Earthquake, Nicer, Heart On Hold, Gossip Queen, Good Listener, He Knows (Beth Arentsen: Nicer).
About the composer and Musician
Lenaé A. Harris, aka Cataclysmic Sounds, is bound to shake up the music industry and join several other predecessors as a true music icon of her time. Her multi-faceted career is a testament to her continued exploration, transcendence of genres, desire, and artistic growth. Whether performing familiar works from the classical repertoire, performing with colleagues on rock, pop, gospel, R&B, soul, and electronic jazz projects, or composing and arranging jingles, string, and orchestral works, Lenaé strives to weave all of it together to leave a permanent stamp in the listener's sub-consciousness for a lifetime. She has worked with such diverse musical artists as Donnie McClurkin, Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers, Karsh Kali, Tye Tribbett, Tamar Kali, Maya Azucena, Imani Uzuri, Jonah Smith, Russell Taylor, Cetacea, Jeremy James, and Beth Arentsen to name a few.
As a highly sought after force in the music industry, Lenaé maintains a balance between her performance engagements as a cellist and pianist, work as composer/arranger and producer, and even working on Wall Street as a Corporate Access analyst. She draws inspiration from a wide circle of collaborators, past and present composers, life experiences and family influences. Lenaé is also widely recognized for her strong ear, expression and tone that have wowed audiences time and time again.
In 2011, Ms. Harris was recognized by NARAS for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) on "Way I Feel" from Russell Taylor's Confessional album. In 2010, she also appeared on radio broadcast WNYC's New Works for Cello episode where movements from The Other Shoe (2009) by composer Chris Becker were featured. Lenaé's compositions, arrangements, and performances have been featured in several projects including the films: Colored Frames (2007), The Ski Trip (2004), The Cello (2003), which was premiered at The New York International Latino Film Festival in 2004, and Little Moon Monster (2002).
Her discography as a cellist, keyboardist, arranger and/or producer include: Sony Release: Hang on Mike, Sparkle, and Unexpected Traffic (Candy Butchers: Hang on Mike), Koch Records releases: Get Live and Anything You Ask For (The Game), Family Feud (The Dayton Family), and Calliope (C-Murder: The Tru Story). Additional credits include: Whole New Level, Sometimes, Move, Different Than The Day Before (Meet Lee), Way I Feel (Russell Taylor: Confessional), Misguided, I Know What You Are Talking About (Jonah Smith: Lights On), Earthquake, Nicer, Heart On Hold, Gossip Queen, Good Listener, He Knows (Beth Arentsen: Nicer).
Born and raised in Chicago, Lenaé was exposed to music at an early age by several relatives who were accomplished musicians. At the age of six, she began her prestigious musical career studying piano with Ryna Krysiak. While attending Foster Park Elementary School, she was exposed to the cello by the school orchestra's conductor Zebedee Taylor. It was this first encounter with the cello that sparked her interest to add it to her studies at age eleven.
During her formative years, she would continue to study privately with pianist Ryna Krysiak and cellist Elizabeth Anderson. As a young protégé at the Merit School of Music, Lenaé had the rare opportunity of performing with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and being coached by the Eroica Trio. She is an alumnus of several orchestras and chamber ensembles including: Chicago Teen Ensemble, Protégé Philharmonic, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Classical Symphony Orchestra, and the Greenwich Village Orchestra.
Lenaé is both graduate of De Paul University (Chicago) and New York University (New York), receiving both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music Composition and Performance where she studied cello with William Cernota and Christopher Costanza, and composition with Janice Misurell-Mitchell, Kurt Westerberg, Ron McClure, and Mark Consoli.