Josh Layne (1977-) began his harp studies with harpist Kathryn Ely in 1990.  He hadn't studied an instrument before and didn't know how to read music.   Three and a half years later, in 1994, Josh gave his first full length recital. In the course of 14 years of performance, Josh Layne has engaged, entertained, and entranced audiences in Canada and the US with the major solo harp repertoire. Called a consummate musician and a world class 
performer, Josh has also, along with his solo work, performed extensively with ensembles ranging from duos to orchestras and has given performances of five of the major harp concertos. 

Josh has recently begun composing, and in March 2006 his composition Passage was selected to be part of the annual Sonic Boom festival of new music in Vancouver, BC.  His second composition, Rhapsody, was completed in the spring of 2007 and Josh gave the premiere performance in Marylhurst, Oregon on April 22nd, 2007.

Josh has three recordings of solo harp music; Masterworks for Harp (2001), An Afternoon of Harp Music (1997 - for a number of years this was one of the top-selling harp CDs on Amazon.com), and A Harp Recital (1996).  Josh can also be heard with his brother, Robin Layne, on the CD Christmas Time - Harp and Marimba and on Nota Bene Women's Ensemble's self-titled CD (playing Britten's Ceremony of Carols and Rutter's Dancing Day).