harp

My name is Keayah Releford, and I am a 9th grade student at Drew Charter School. I have been playing the harp since 6th grade. I first wanted to start playing harp because it looked like an easy instrument. However, once I began learning, I realized that the harp is actually very challenging and requires a lot of focus and practice. Even though it can be tricky at times, I enjoy pushing myself to improve.

I especially enjoy playing pop and jazz music on the harp. I have performed in Solo and Ensemble and have also played in front of my school board, which helped me grow more confident as a musician.

In addition to harp, I am very dedicated to basketball. I am a varsity girls basketball player at Drew Charter School, and I started on varsity as a freshman. I play both point guard and shooting guard. My career high on varsity is 15 points. I also play AAU basketball for Team Truth. Balancing sports, music, and academics takes discipline, but I am proud to maintain a 3.7 GPA and have been on the A/B Honor Roll since 6th grade.

One of my goals is to earn a scholarship for harp because I know it can open many opportunities for my future. When I grow up, I hope to become a professional basketball player and/or a professional harpist. If those paths do not work out, I would like to become a nurse so I can help others. After high school, I hope to attend the University of Georgia because I have heard they have a strong harp program.

The harp has taught me patience, determination, and confidence. Even when a piece of music feels difficult, I keep practicing until I improve. These skills help me not only in music, but also in basketball and in the classroom.