Samantha Aki Pascual is an 8th-grade student at Pleasanton Middle School and has taken lessons with Dominique Piana for about a year. Alongside her growing harp journey, she is an accomplished singer and has taken part in honor choirs and an All-State youth choir. In her free time, she enjoys partaking in artistic

activities such as drawing and writing. She was drawn to the sound of the harp because of the way the music echoes throughout the instrument. She likes its expressive qualities, especially its calming atmosphere.

The whimsical piece Dancing Fingers, from Solos for Sonja, was composed by harpist and musicologist Ruth K. Inglefield for her daughter, who also became a professional harpist. In honor of her teacher, she wrote the book Marcel Grandjany: Concert Harpist, Composer and Teacher. Marcel Grandjany came from France to settle in New York, where he taught at the Juilliard School of Music. His piece The See-Saw, from Little Harp Book, tells of the free-spirited delights of childhood.

Sofia began her harp musical journey 2 years ago. Since then, Sofia has developed a deep appreciation for its unique and enchanting sound. In the USIMC 2023, Sofia was awarded the second place in the young artist award in for Celtic harp division. It is a testament to her talent and hard work.

Sofia will perform the "Minuet in G" originally attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged for harp by Pearl Chertok, and the "Petite Berceuse" composed by Alphonse Hasselmans. Sofia will showcase her ability to resonate each note with poise and grace, unveils her depths of musical sensitivity, and invites listeners into a world of timeless pieces.

My name is Choko and I am 7 years old. I have been learning harp with Ms. Janice Ortega for two years now. I love playing harp because it is such a pretty instrument with a magnificent sound. The reason I chose to play Under the Sea is that it is a very happy song and I want everyone to be happy. For MINUET in G Major, BWV Anh 116, it is my first time to play Bach. I think his music is very peaceful and interesting. 

My name is Swara Prithvi and I am 10 years old, in 4th grade, at Country Club Elementary School in San Ramon.  I have been playing the harp for the past 2 years, and the flute for the past 3.5 years.  I have also been learning Bharatanatyam Indian classical dance for the past 6 years. I love music and I like to sing along to some of my favorite songs.

French-American immigrant composer Marcel Grandjany wrote Bonjour Monsieur Rameau in praise to the widely known baroque composer, Rameau, who introduced the science of harmony in the 18th century. 

Chorale by Linda Wood Rollo, from Harp Solos Volume 1, imitates the ‘German chorale”, that is, four-part hymn arrangements usually adapted to instruments like the piano and organ capable of playing vertical chords. Here, the beginning chords are converted to running arpeggios after the first complete statement.

Milana Rubio is 11 years old and in the 6th grade at Weston Elementary School in Ripon, a small town in California's Central Valley. She has played the harp for three and a half years and chose the harp for its beautiful tone and interesting way of playing it. She likes that it helps her build discipline and confidence. Milana also plays the piano and soccer.

Processional was composed by illustrious local harp teacher Linda Wood Rollo, who has co-authored an expansive body of work with Susann McDonald. She was also a founder and review editor of the World Harp Congress. A march in four sections, Processional makes the harp sing with chords, arpeggios and glissandos.

Nocturne by renowned French-American harpist Marcel Grandjany combines melodic and rhythmic patterns for a unique interpretation of night time sounds. He taught at the Juilliard School of Music in New York and was known for his huge hands with fingers like spatulas, yet relished composing for students with little hands.

I have been playing the harp for a year and a half and am excited to share two pieces I have been working on. 

Bernard Andres is a French harpist and composer. I chose this piece because I thought that the melody line sounded really beautiful, gentle, yet very fun. It felt very light, and I really love that about this piece. 

Susann McDonald is a classical harpist, and a music composer.  I chose this piece because I really loved the way that the arpeggios had a crescendo then a decrescendo, which made the piece stand out to me. I also liked the way the piece had really nice phrasing.  

I am 7 years old, and I have been playing the harp for three years with Ms. Janice Ortega. I love the harp because it sounds beautiful and looks fabulous. I will play pieces from “Haiku for the Harp” by Susann McDonald and Linda Wood. 

Susann McDonald and Linda Wood are both female American harpists and composers. The pieces are very unique and are inspired by Japanese poetry, Haiku. Each Haiku poem includes 5-7-5 syllables and a natural word that represents the season of the year.

“Dance from one blade of grass To another, Pearls of dew”

The poem describes sparkling morning dew in fall. This is a very beautiful piece. Playing harmonics and keeping the rhythm is challenging, and I will try my best.

“A stray cat Asleep on the roof In the spring rain”

This piece should be played lazily like a napping cat under gentle spring rain, and I think this is very cute. I use a metal straw to express a cat’s purring and falling asleep.

“The old pond A frog jumps in The sound of water”

This poem shows how a small frog breaks the silence when jumping into a barren pond. I will try to play this piece with dynamics to show these contrasts. I love many glissandos and special effects that sound like frog’s croaking.

Carillon is a piece composed by A. Hasselmans. It is a lively tune that has an “ABA” pattern. Hasselmans was born in 1845. He was a Belgian-born French harpist and composer.  

Sonatina in Classical Style is a dance with three parts. Its composer, Linda Wood Rollo, is a harpist and teacher and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Redlands and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California.

I like the piece Carillon because it is very lively and has a variety of different tempos and dynamics. I also like Sonatina because it is very soothing.   

I am in 4th grade, and I have been playing harp for almost 3 years. I am now a member of the Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble. 

I am 11 years old and have been learning the harp for almost five and a half years now. I got inerested in the instrument when I was in kindergarten. My teacher then was reading a story about a leprechaun and showed us a video of someone playing the harp. I loved the sound of the chords and the glissando. Playing the harp has helped me in school because I already knew how to read music when I began to the play the alto and baritone saxophone in 4 th grade. Some of my other interests are mathematics, art, Lego building, and soccer. The two pieces I am playing for the recital are Le Roseau and Two Guitars. 

Le Roseau

Dieudonné-Joseph-Guilllaume-Félix Godefroid, known as Félix Godefroid, was born in Namur, Belgium on 07/24/1818. Félix came from a family of talented musicians, and took the same path himself. His parents and eldest brother Jules all passed away in 1836. Félix was deeply bonded with his brother. This made Felix start his own career. Before all of this, Félix joined the Conservatoire at the age of 14, and got a second Prix in 1834. He spent much of the 1840s to the 1860s performing solo in France, Western Europe, Russia and the Middle East. His music is described as full of brilliance, delicacy, melody and mysterious harmony. As a composer, Félix Godefroid wrote his greatest pieces for himself to play and for his students. Many were composed in either harp or piano versions. Le Roseau relates to the fable about the reed and the oak tree by Lafontaine. The question was: who is stronger, the oak tree or the reed? The reed ends up being stronger because of its flexibility, while the oak tree would just snap in the wind. Godefroid composed Le Roseau later in his life, aiming for big technique, such as arpeggios and operatic tunes. The melody of Le Roseau brings out the singing tone of the harp while sighing effects show the bending of the reed in the wind.

Two Guitars

Linda Wood Rollo is a harpist and a teacher who has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Redlands, and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California. She has received many awards, some of which include the World Harp Congress Award of Recognition for service to the International Harp Community (2002), and the Distinguished Alumni Award (1987). She has published many volumes of music, and is the co-owner of Music Works- Harps Editions with Susann McDonald. Two Guitars was composed by Linda Wood as a part of the Harp Solos - Volume 4. It imitates Flamenco, a Spanish song and dance style with guitars. At times, Two Guitars

switches to Fandango, another Spanish dance, which is known to be faster than the Flamenco.

My name is Emeline Halsted, and I currently live in Castro Valley. I have been homeschooling my whole life, and this year I am in ninth grade and have been taking lessons on the harp from Dominique Piana for about one year now. Besides the harp, I also play the classical guitar and have taken a few years of piano lessons in the past. Hobbies that I enjoy doing include realistic artwork such as painting and drawing and writing fiction, as well as occasional needle felting. My family and I are working on building up a two-hundred-acre regenerative farm and ranch which my brother and I will be managing. I intend to get a degree in sustainable agriculture from Chico State while continuing to play the harp.

The first piece that I will perform is Rocking, from the Little Harp Book by Marcel Grandjany, a 20th century French-American harpist and composer originally from Paris. It brings out the syncopated moves of a happy child on a rocking horse. The second one, Aquatinte No. III, was composed by Bernard Andrès, also a French harpist and composer. Compared to Rocking, this piece has more of a swirling quality, produced by the repeated rolled chords. The word Aquatinte is a French art term related to a way of printing resembling a watercolor. Because of his marriage to an artist, many of his compositions have titles and moods related to the visual arts.

My name is Sofia Mohammed. 

I’ve been playing the harp for 9 years now—ever since I was in 3rd Grade. I’m now currently a high school senior, and this will be my last harp recital before college. My first piece is Claire de Lune, a widely known song composed by Claude Debussy. In French, its meaning is translated as “Moonlight”. It was one of Debussy’s earlier pieces, referring to a folk song that talks about a theatrical character being in love. Debussy started piano at 9 years old, went on to play for a Russian millionaire, and traveled through Europe with the millionaire’s children. His love, Blanche Vasnier, was said to be the inspiration of his earlier works, including Claire de Lune. 

My second piece is a passionate song called Fire Dance, which was inspired by a South American dance that is both rhythmic and engaging. The composer, David Watkins, first studied at the Royal Academy of Music, then went to Paris and Switzerland to finish his study. Eventually, he became the founder member of the Welsh National Opera Company and performed as a solo harpist around the world. 

Elena Tong is in eighth grade and has played the harp for five years with her teacher Ms. Sonya Yu.  She has also played the piano for nine years.

Cannelle from Epices pour Harpe 2e Cahier

Cannelle, which means Cinnamon in French, was written by Bernard Andres as part of a collection of pieces called Épices, or Spices. It is a contemporary piece filled with distinctive harmonies and rhythms.

Bernard Andres is a French harpist and composer, born in 1941. For over 40 years, he served as the principal harpist in the Symphonic Orchestra of the Ile de France and in the Air Force Army Orchestra. He composes not only for harp but also for orchestras and chamber music ensembles and has written over 60 edited works. Andres works with traditional music as well as explores contemporary music, and he has been recognized in many composition competitions.

Largo (extrait de la Sonate no 5 pour violon transcription pour harpe)

Largo was written in 1725, during the late Baroque era. It was originally written by Johann Sebastian Bach for violin but was later arranged by Marcel Grandjany for the harp.

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer born in 1685 to a family of musicians. He was one of the most influential composers of the Baroque era, known primarily as an organ player. He wrote more than a thousand musical works before his death in 1750.

Marcel Grandjany, a French composer and harpist, was born in 1891. He later moved to the United States, where he taught at several schools of music, including the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music.

My name is Vivienne Voorhies and I have been playing harp for two and a half years. I enjoy the harp because of its sound, and the joy it brings me to play it. The harp stood out to me because of how it feels as I pluck the strings, and I loved the echoes and resonance.

I have played pieces by Carlos Salzedo, a French-born American composer born in the late 19th century. These pieces contain many fast, complicated rhythms inspired by diverse dances from around the world. The artistic movements of the dances are echoed in the rhythm of the pieces, and the quick finger movements are evocative of the movement of the dancers.

Join me today as I play "Tango" from Salzedo’s “Suite of Eight Dances”. 

My name is Zahara Arora. I have a younger sister and a pet bird. I am an 8th grader at Piedmont Middle School, San Jose, and have been playing the harp for almost six years under the teaching of Mrs. Esther Lee. One of my hobbies is playing the piano which I have been doing for eight years. 

Today, I will play Claude Debussy’s First Arabesque, originally written for piano, and arranged by H. Renié for the harp. Claude Debussy’s “First Arabesque” was written in 1888 when Debussy was in his mid-twenties. Debussy’s legacy as one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries is linked to works like this arabesque. This piece captures the essence of impressionism, a musical movement Debussy would later become a part of. Impressionism is a classical music style that originated in France in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It’s characterized by a focus on atmosphere and mood.   Debussy is often regarded as the father of musical impressionism. His compositions, such as “Clair de Lune,” “La Mer,” and “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun,” are some of his more popular compositions compared to the Arabesques. The term “arabesque itself suggests flowing, ornamental music. Debussy’s composition mirrors this with its graceful melodies and delicate textures. Influenced by the arabesque art form and Eastern musical elements, Debussy gives the piece a sense of fluidity and dreamlike imagery. The composition of the “First Arabesque” coincided with a time of creativity and experimentation in Debussy’s life. He was part of a circle of artists and musicians in Paris who were seeking to step away from the music of the Romantic era and create a new musical language. Debussy’s rejection of traditional harmonic structures and his embrace of impressionistic techniques laid the groundwork for a revolution in classical music. The “First Arabesque” reflects Debussy’s early exploration of innovative ideas, showcasing his talent for creating harmonies and interlacing tones.

I’m Camille and I’m 14 years old. I’ve been playing the harp for around seven years now. Whether I’m playing the harp as a soloist, in a harp ensemble, or in an orchestra, I love the rewarding feeling after every performance and I believe that sharing the joy of music with others does truly make a difference in the world.

Sonata in C Minor is written by Pescetti, an organist and harpsichordist who is mainly known for compositions for operas and keyboard sonatas. The structure of this sonata consists of two movements, each with a melody that echoes between the two hands. The accents on certain notes and dynamics allow for a variety of interpretations in terms of expressive phrasing.

I’m Olivia Nam, an 8th grader currently attending Blach Intermediate School. Mrs. Linda Rollo and Sonya Yu have been teaching me for the past 4.5 years. I chose to play the harp because I grew up surrounded by music. My older sister, also a harpist, played the harp regularly, and I was inspired by listening to the sound of the beautiful instrument of the harp. I play in my school's orchestra and enjoy playing various types of music on the harp, including classic and pop music. Today, I am performing Impromptu-Caprice, Op. 9 by Gabriel Pierné. 

Gabriel Pierné was a French composer and conductor. He was born in Metz, but moved to Paris with his family. Pierné won many awards and was an accomplished musician. He wrote several operas, choral and symphonic pieces, and he also wrote lots of chamber music.

Charlotte Trinh began to learn the harp when she was five and has been studying with Dominique Piana for seven years.  She has won the gold in the Yvonne LaMothe Schwager Competition from 2017 to 2023, the gold in the 2023 CalASTA competition, and was a finalist in the AHS National Competition. She performed the Dittersdorf Harp Concerto with the Sycamore Chamber Orchestra and was twice accepted as a performer in the Junior Bach Festival. She also performs regularly with the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. 

Charlotte is thankful to her mom for driving her weekly to lessons, her dad for transporting her harp, and her teacher for nurturing her through her harp journey. In her free time, she loves dancing in ballet productions at the Lesher Center for the Arts with the Contra Costa Ballet Centre. 

François-Adrien Boieldieu was a French opera composer during the early Romantic period. His most famous opera is La Dame Blanche, a work based on the writings of Sir Walter Scott.  He also composed several romances and sonatas for the harp, as well as a harp and piano duo. Though composed in his youth, the Boieldieu Concerto for Harp is undoubtedly a masterpiece. Marielle Nordmann, a student of the well-known harpist, Lily Laskine, edited the most recent version of the concerto, with different cadenzas. 

Liliana Abraham just turned 13 and has been playing harp for 5 years. She studies with Mrs. Linda Rollo both in person and on Zoom. Liliana has attended the summer Young Artist’s Harp Seminar, first via Zoom during COVID in the prep division and the last two years in the two-week YAHS intensive training program located at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Liliana was a finalist in the 2023 American Harp Society’s National Competition in Los Angeles last June. She currently plays harp in her school orchestra at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles. In her spare time, she enjoys “thrifting” with her friends.

Marcel Georges Lucien Grandjany was a prominent French harpist and composer. He was taught by the famous Henriette Renié, as well as Alphonse Hasselmans. Grandjany’s works are a main contributor to the classic harp repertoire. Today I am going to be playing Fantaisie on a Theme of Haydn. Grandjany took a simplistic theme and expanded upon it using different techniques which produce a diverse sound.

Melody Chien is currently a junior at Lynbrook High School. She is a student of Sonya Yu and has been playing the harp for around eight years. In addition to playing harp in her school’s Chamber Orchestra, she is the harpist for CYS’s Senior Orchestra and is an assistant in the Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble. 

Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer who wrote many popular ballets and symphonies such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. He went to the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and received formal Western-oriented lessons, which set him apart from composers of the contemporary nationalist movement. Ekaterina Walter-Kühne was the principal harpist at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg and likely played many of Tchaikovsky’s ballets and operas. Eugene Onegin is a lyric opera about a selfish hero who lives to regret his rejection of a young woman’s love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend.