Gayle Levant

Gayle Levant is the award-winning harpist who became the first woman to serve as President of the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) which was formed in 1938!  In the 1960s she followed in her father’s footsteps and began working as a studio musician in Los Angeles.  Her father, the late Mark Levant, was concertmaster for several major film studios, ie, MGM, Paramount, RKO, Republic and Disney. Gayle’s harp can be heard on hundreds of recordings, television shows and motion pictures including dozens by The Carpenters and Barbra Streisand, who became a close personal friend. She has had the joy of playing in the orchestra for the Academy Awards for more than 25 years. Gayle was the first harpist to be honored with the “Most Valuable Player’s Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).  Along with composers Artie Butler and Charles Fox, she formed Evergreen Recording Studios in 1979, which later hired noted English engineer John Richards. She and John eventually married and share a wonderful life together. Gayle served on the board for ASMAC before becoming President and strives to advance the organization's mission to promote the craft of arranging, composing and orchestration with educational programs and by honoring musical pioneers.