Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Falon Kelley is a 12th grade harpist who goes to Charles R. Drew Charter School. Her school is the only school in Georgia to have an in-school harp program. She has now been playing the harp for 7 years and frequently participates in the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble’s spring and winter performances. She has played in multiple concerts, performing songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Two Guitars, Moonlight, and Walking in the Air.  In February of 2020, she was selected as a featured performer at the Salute to Greatness event where she had the opportunity to perform for guests such as Will and Jayden Smith and Bernice King. Falon participated in the Fall 2022 Solo/Ensemble, where she received a superior rating for her solo of Above the Clouds by Frank Voltz. When she’s not playing the harp, she loves to read and listen to music. She owns multiple books at home and is always excited to buy more. Her other pastimes include playing golf and writing. She has all A’s and excels in math. She is usually looking for music that she can play on the harp. Falon plans to study computer science and premed and become a pathologist.

El Numero Uno is a song composed by Jane Weidensaul and was performed by the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble 1A class. El Numero Uno is a name typically used to describe a bullfighter, and this entire piece was made to evoke the feeling of watching a bull fight. Two special effects were used in this song: pres de la table (close to the table, or in this case plucking strings very close to the soundboard), and knocking on the soundboard to create a drum-like effect.

The Urban Youth Harp ensemble performed Unrest by Brandee Younger. It was created to reflect the tensions and uncertainty present during the year of 2020.  We replayed the song 3 times, using a technique called pres de la table on the 2nd playthrough, where the strings are played close to the soundboard.

The UHYE performed Uplift Your Voice by Brandee Younger, which was made to represent the activism throughout 2020. The song clearly draws inspiration from the song Lift Every Voice (commonly referred to as the Black National Anthem). Uplift Your Voice conveys the same sense of hope that the former did.

By Toby Fox, arr. by Falon Kelley

A remake of a song from Deltarune, a game that has continuously brought me comfort during the tumultuous year.