Ernestine Stoop was born in Utrecht and began studying harp, at the age of eleven, with Titia Tieman-van der Laars. She earned her solo diploma in 1980, studying with Edward Witsenburg at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. She then studied for two years with the legendary harpist Pierre Jamet, the authority on the works of Claude Debussy; he worked with the composer himself on the pieces written for harp. Ernestine Stoop studied chamber music in Salzburg with the violinist Sandor Végh.

After playing for 11 years with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, she is now dedicating herself fully as a soloist, chamber music (HarpDuo Rave land Trio Janacek) and teaching. She is a member of the New Ensemble, Atlas Ensemble and Asko|Schönberg.

She is harp-professor at the Royal Conservatoire in the Hague and at the Fontys High School of Music in Tilburg.

She initiated the 3rd and 5th European Harp Symposia (1995 and 2001) in Amsterdam. Recently a real Carillo-harp has been made for her. This is a unique 16th tone instrument designed by Juan Carrillo (Mexican composer) early 20th century.

Ernestine has been the artistic director of the prestigious 10th World Harp Congress 2008, which took place in Amsterdam in the ‘MuziekGebouw aan ‘t IJ’.

She is ‘Officer of the Board’ of the World Harp Congress, Inc.

Her last cd was released 2012 with the whole cycle “Miroirs” by Maurice Ravel, whose music she adapted for two harps, which was very enthusiastically received.