Share Email Print RSS

Stringing it Together

The American Youth Harp Ensemble , comprising Richmond kids aged 9 to 18 years old, will take the stage Saturday at the Grace Baptist Church for the Ensemble's Annual Holiday Concert .

But, don't be hasty and dismiss this concert as your ordinary high school band performance. Over the course of the past few years, the ensemble has performed in venues in which some professional musicians can only dream of playing, and some ensemble members have shared the stage with international music stars.

"It's a very demanding ensemble," Director Lynnelle Ediger-Kordizaia said. "These children - these musicians - have played at venues that professional musicians three and four times their age aspire to perform at before their career is over."

In 2001, the ensemble, in an invited performance, debuted at Carnegie Hall in the Weill Recital Hall. This spring, they'll return to Carnegie Hall, by invitation, for their second performance.

"It's unprecedented," Ediger-Kordizaia said. "To get invited back a second time I think is an extraordinary testament to the ability of the players."

In addition to Carnegie Hall, the ensemble has traveled to Paris, Italy, Edinburgh, and has played in concert at the John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, the American Youth Harp Ensemble has been featured on a variety of national and international television programs, including CNN, PBS, the Edinburgh Evening News and National Public Radio.

"More than music, it's a ticket for these kids to see the world," Ediger-Kordizaia said.

Among the young musicians is 12-year-old Charles Overton . Charles transitioned from five years of experience playing the violin to the harp two and a half years ago, and hasn't looked back since.

"I just got it," he said. "It didn't come easy. I practice two hours a day, six days a week."

Charles enjoyed it so much, in fact, that he approached his mom, Lisa Overton , not long ago and asked that he be home-schooled in order to have sufficient amount of time to practice.

"We felt it was a passion and he asked if he could do something special with the music," Overton said. "In order to get two hours of practice daily and be a little boy, you can't be in school full time."

The ensemble comprises two ability levels, Ediger-Kordizaia said. While, initially, there was only a "performance" or "concert" level when the ensemble was conceived, in recent years the popularity of program has allowed for the creation of a beginner, or "Lyra" – Greek for "harp" – level, in addition to the concert level.

This weekend's concert is unique because it will showcase all ability levels on stage at the same time, Overton said.

"If a child can only play one song with one hand, that's what you will see," she said. "But that child will be next to a child playing with two hands, or using the pedal harp. So you've got different levels side by side. It is incredible that she's [Ediger-Kordizaia] able to bring out a wonderful sound with all the ability levels together."

Though the ensemble age ceiling is 18, alumni of the program have continued with their music at the collegiate and professional levels.

Combined, last year's three ensemble graduates received between $200,000 and $300,000 in scholarship awards for their musical talents, Ediger-Kordizaia said. One graduate, Anna Edwards , was accepted to the prestigious Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, earning the only freshman spot after learning the harp in just a year and a half.

As for Charles, he has some time yet to decide what path he will follow with his music.

"I think I see a future," he said. "I would really like to teach with music. But, I want to perform, too. My mom is starting to look at colleges with institutes, so I've got some time."

Until then, Charles and his fellow harpists will continue their grueling practice and performance schedule for their return to Carnegie in June.

The American Youth Harp Ensemble will perform Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Baptist Church on Dover Road. This holiday concert will preview selections from the Ensemble's upcoming performances at Carnegie Hall and the United Nations in New York. $10 adults, $5 students and seniors. For more information, call (804) 837-9355.