She has an Instagram following and is admired by musicians around the world she is as beautiful as her instrument.
On February 5, 2020, Madison started her own YouTube channel named Madison Calley where she uploaded her first video of a harp cover. The video still remains the most viewed video on her channel with 608k views. She has posted covers from artists like H.E.R, Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, JoJo, and many more. Currently, she has more than 38k subscribers on the channel. Madison was included in the performance of “Still I Rise” which also features Madison Calley, Misty Copeland, Naya Lovell, Janelle Moná, and many more. The performance was a part of Barack and Michelle Obama’s ‘Dear Class of 2020’ event which was conducted on June 5, 2020, and which featured performances from BTS, CNCO, Katy Perry, etc.
Madison Calley Net worth
Madison is not only a trained harpist but she also trained for 15 years as a gymnast. Apart from this she also owns her own line of swimmers known as Calleysunshine. The brand was launched in 2017 and will be back with Summer 21 collection soon. It is estimated that her net worth is around $500k US Dollars. The suits in this article are her design.
The harp, one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, is a staple within the orchestral world where the tunes of classical music can often be heard. However, this instrument with origins dating from as early as 3000 B.C.—in wall paintings of ancient Egyptian tombs—is beating to a new tune by social entrepreneur, Grammy performer, and Carnegie Mellon alum Madison Calley.
Calley is one of few orchestral musicians leading a rebirth of the harp with music played on the instrument beyond the scope of traditional genres. Her Instagram page features many of her music covers of melodic Pop and R&B soul-based songs in an earth green plant-filled room capturing the hearts of over 525K listeners with present and yesteryear songs. This following is only the tip of the iceberg for all her musicianship encapsulates.
Not only has she amassed a large following and landed a gig at the 2021 Grammys, but she has also garnered opportunities to partake in the Latin Grammys, the BET Awards, countless music performances, and videos, and sponsor renowned lifestyle brands to further a new tune in the industry. All culminating in her latest project, a debut album under Apple’s record label Platoon.
Calley has also been featured by top artists such as Alicia Keys, who posted about her numerous times because of her talent. Her music was also shared by Malala’s fund Instagram account. Apart from this recently in February 2021, she appeared on the game show, To Tell The Truth, and even gave a harp performance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Madison has started giving harp private lessons virtually.
Early in her career, Calley identified that becoming an entrepreneur would enable her to help the next generation of musicians broaden the scope of the orchestral field, which is an industry where less than five percent of concert musicians are persons of color. Calley shares more on her personal journey to create a more inclusive environment for musicians including tips she has deployed to support leaders and musicians in the industry.
The Seeds That Birthed The Musical Entrepreneur
Calley attributes her start in music stemming from a family request that both she and her brothers choose a sport and an instrument. Then one evening at the age of four Calley visited a restaurant that she frequented in Alexandria, Virginia with her family where she heard a harpist playing Disney songs. During the time, she recalled being moved by listening to songs that she loved on an instrument that was new to her. It was then that her love for the harp was born. In addition, her love for entrepreneurship was deepened by bearing witness to her mother who played the piano, and her grandfather who was a music teacher in Tuskegee, Alabama, and served as Lionel Richie’s first music teacher.
Calley’s classical training began shortly thereafter at age six with music theory on the piano then leading her to begin to play the harp at age eight. With experience, playing came her eventual acceptance to the D.C. Youth Orchestra and later an opportunity to study music at Carnegie Mellon University.
During this journey, duality became a key component of Calley’s musical experience as she began to further explore who she was as an artist and a person. “Looking at all the shifts in the music industry and being fascinated with the intersections between classical and contemporary music I quickly understood that paving my own performance lane and career path was the only trajectory to establishing a business and a brand based on the things I valued, spaces for healing and making an impact that was bigger than me,” Calley shares.
Subsequently her business and brand were born through the nonlinear path Calley followed. This included leaving music behind for four years, followed by Calley establishing a swimwear line during a move to Los Angeles and revisiting expressing her musical talents after working on a project with Willow Smith that inspired her to play the harp in a social media video. The video went viral leading to later music video covers being re-shared by the likes of Alicia Keys and other celebrities. It was within the process of aligning her schooling, goals and purpose Calley’s mission was eminent.
Merging Classical & Contemporary Music As A Black Woman Entrepreneur
“I understood early in my career that I wanted to live a life that prioritized happiness but integrated sustainability and impact,” Calley illuminates. Entrepreneurship has become the conduit through which she can do this. However, during her initial years navigating the orchestral arena, she noticed that she was one of very few musicians in the classical realm that looked like her. This often led her to experience unique hurdles as a harpist amongst peers who hadn’t truly embraced her. The harpist and entrepreneur did not want this for others navigating the field.
This led Calley to focus on business opportunities embracing her talents including: 1) her current project to launch a debut album that offers a different sound and 2) her endeavors to make playing the harp more affordable and relatable for the next generation. She shares: “I understood very early that my business model would need me to be the teacher, developer, product and distributor and as a woman of color I understood that the time was now and I was committed to create, lead and establish what ‘my now’ looked like,” she details.
With these endeavors, Calley’s debut album will feature 8 music covers that embrace the bridge between classical and contemporary music. In addition, during sessions teaching students virtually Calley has consistently made efforts to make learning spaces more inclusive by inspiring her students to embrace their personal roots along their musical journeys. She has found this important especially as music literature traditionally embodies the sounds and visuals of its predominant culture.
Balancing the Business and the Art
Balance has been a priority for Calley from the start. She shares: “I once heard that while not all entrepreneurs are artists, all artists are entrepreneurs so like most things striking a balance is important but providing the space to keep my art within its purest form is a priority.” Calley has struck a balance in her personal life to bring forth purity in her music by doing the following: establishing a routine, meditating, and practicing gratitude. As a self-employed artist, she has found adventurous opportunities that have gravitated toward her when embracing this lifestyle. In addition, working out and following a clean diet has been key staples in her day-to-day schedule that consists of a grounding morning walk or gym time followed by healthy meals that give her sustenance.
This holistic lifestyle has encouraged her to consistently reach within and embrace her brand image and authentic self, especially in a harp community that Calley notes is very conservative. For example, “rules for traditional performances often include a certain dress attire requiring clothes to be below the knee and no nail polish or heels of a certain height,” she discloses. Calley hopes her example encourages others to feel that they can engage in the field in their own individual ways. Given her personal journey, Calley aims for her business to holistically portray experiences and wisdom in the lifestyle, fashion, and music arenas.
Supporting the Next Generation
In closing, Calley offers the following actionable tips to support artists, teachers, and industry leaders in creating a more inclusive environment that embraces new offerings in arenas where they aren’t traditionally represented:
- Establish a Self Care System and Set Healthy Boundaries: “Balance and a consistent rhythm fuels creativity and longevity. Too much of anything will have diminishing returns, so it’s critically important to establish balance in all that you do. A consistent bedtime, morning routine, a nutrition and exercise schedule, and a positive and uplifting work environment is a catalyst for manifesting your goals and elevating your mental wellbeing.”
- Have Faith in Your Own Unique Individual Alignment: “We are all unique individual miracles. You will never have all your ducks lined up in a row, but embodying confidence in your own unique contribution to the Universe keeps necessary momentum alive in order to shine your brightest light.”
- Nurture Your Calling: “Give yourself permission to tinker around and remain curious about the things you are interested in. Read books, explore and always remain a student of your craft. Potential is infinite.”
Calley hopes that her tips and personal journey show current and future artists and entrepreneurs that they are capable of leaving their mark on the industry. She believes that these words of wisdom alongside building lasting connections within the field can support artists in thriving. She shares: “Building relationships with my students and audience, negotiating rates, and developing my brand have all been crucial in establishing a business and brand that I hope one day outlives me, but most importantly illuminates a path for someone else.” She is excited for all that is to come on her journey that may inspire the next generation of artists and leaders.
