Holiday Harp Extravaganza XXVI (2024)

On July 13, Harp Society LA hosted an ice cream social and pool party at the home of Jillian Lopez. The event featured a performance by Jessica Brizuela and a Latin Ensemble featuring percussionist Cesar Ventura, and dancers Lucas Prat and America Bustamante of...

Student Recital On June 8, 2024, fourteen local harp students (from grade school to adult, playing harps from lap-harp to midsize lever harp to concert grands) delighted their audience with an eclectic selection of music - from modern Classical, to Celtic, to...

On Sunday, May 19, 2024, members and guests gathered in a lovely garden patio in Monrovia to enjoy performances by the talented young harpists who recently received scholarship awards from the LA Chapter's Valeria Finzi Memorial scholarship fund. We also had a...

Holiday Harp Extravaganza XXIV On Saturday, December 17, 2022, dozens of harpists from throughout Southern California gathered in the lobby of Pasadena's Huntington Hospital to play a festive selection of Christmas, Chanukah and general-interest music in a grand...

June 10, 2022, "Together Again!" gathering After many of us had not seen each other in person for a couple of years, AHS-LA members and their guests were welcomed back into the gracious, harp-filled Beverly Hills home of Dorothy Victor (one of the founders of the Los...

Despite being physically distanced by pandemic restrictions, our biannual Music Education event via Zoom was a great success! Annual "Music Ed" AKA "Auditions & Evaluations" are held every February & March. More info on the national program here. Julie Smith...

With guidance and expert video editing by Gracie Sprout (AHS-LA 1st VP & director of events), several members participated in creating a virtual harp ensemble (performing arrangements by our President Ellie Choate) to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!  You can...

Video-Recording Masterclass on Zoom (Above: Gracie Sprout)(Above: Jillian Lopez)11/8/20 4PM PST In preparation for our first ever Virtual Holiday Harp Extravaganza,  Gracie Sprout and Jillian Lopez hosted a masterclass on Zoom on Sunday November 8th at 4pm...

December 2020 Holiday Harp Extravaganza on YouTube (click to view)! This year, we celebrated the holidays in accordance with our new social distancing guidelines. Customarily we meet at Huntington Hospital on a Saturday in December and play all our holiday...

On January 20, 2020, members were welcomed into Dorothy Victor's Beverly Hills home for an informative membership meeting, where the upcoming events were announced; some harpistic entertainment; and a delightful potluck meal.  Below: Ellie Choate and Elaine...

On November 24, 2019, thirteen students (from grade-school to adult) shared their talents with an appreciative audience at the Walkers' residence in San Marino.   Congratulations to all the students on their achievements, and to their supportive families!...

On March 20, 2019, AHS-LA and the Beach Cities Harp Ring were delighted to welcome The "doyenne of Irish harpers", Máire Ní Chathasaigh ,(pronounced Moira Nee Ha-ha-sig) (in photo above, near center in blue scarf) to present a workshop, "The Irish Harp...

On Monday, January 21, 2019, Martin Luther King Day, AHS-LA members gathered at the gracious home of Dorothy Victor in Beverly Hills and enjoyed socializing, munchies and listening to several special guests perform! Above: Michelle Whitson Stone (center) played some...

On Saturday December 15, 2018, harpists from all over Southern California gathered in the lobby of the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena to enjoy playing holiday music together, delighting the staff and visitors of the hospital!  Harpists of all ages and...

On Sunday November 18, 2018, listeners were treated to a recital by harp students of all ages, organized by the American Harp Society Los Angeles Chapter and generously hosted by the Miller family in Pacific Palisades.  Above: Hosts Lew and Susan Miller (center)...

On May 20, 2018, AHS-LA held our annual fundraiser for the Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarship. We were treated to a lovely afternoon on the shady lawn of Chateau Le Fleurs, Duquessa McGuffin's lovely residence in Flintridge.  As is our custom, we were entertained...

On March 10, 2018, harpers from across Southern California gathered for AHS-LA's 2nd annual pre-St. Patrick's Day celebration of Irish harp music, in an all-ages event at the Mt. Lowe Brewing Company. Chapter president Allison Allport and 1st VP Alison Bjorkedal led...

On Martin Luther King Day, January 15, 2018, members of AHS-LA and their guests gathered for a potluck party, membership meeting & mini-concert at the Beverly Hills home of Dorothy Victor. After cocktails, Stephanie Bennett presented a short concert of her...

On December 16, 2017, harpers and harpists from across southern California gathered for a very special AHS-LA Holiday Extravaganza performance. It was the 20th Holiday Extravaganza organized and led by Elaine Litster! We gathered in the lobby of the Huntington...

On November 19, 2017, nine student harpists performed at an inspiring recital hosted by Susan Miller at her gracious home in Pacific Palisades. Friends,  family and teachers of the students gathered to celebrate their accomplishments.   Above: Chapter president...

On June 4, 2017, members and friends gathered to celebrate this year's recipients of the annual Finzi scholarships and to raise money for the scholarship fund, by enjoying a lovely afternoon of harp music followed by ice cream and an exciting raffle! Above: Annette...

On January 29, 2017, at Mayman Hall of the Colburn School of Music, the Chapter presented the premier concert of the winners of our 2016 composition competition (made possible by a grant from the [national] American Harp Society). The winning composers were (1st...

On Monday, January 16, hostess Dorothy Victor again opened her gracious Beverly Hills home for our annual gathering.   Above: Dorothy Victor (center) welcomes guests. Above: Ellie Choate and Bob Gotthoffer visit.  Above: Ellie Choate entertains with a...

 On Sunday, May 1, 2016, members and guests gathered for the festive "Spring Fling" which annually raises funds for the Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarships, while honoring the current year's scholarship recipients, who entertain music-lovers with performances,...

On Monday, January 18, 2016, The Hostess with the Mostest, Dorothy Victor, once again welcomed AHS-LA members and their guests to her lovely Beverly Hills home for our annual get-together.  We honored the remarkable life of our late member Susan Allen, followed...

On December 12, 2015, harpers and harpists from across Southern California gathered to celebrate the holidays with our 18th annual Extravaganza ensemble performance! Organized by Elaine Litster and Bonnie Mohr, we gathered in the beautiful lobby of the Huntington...

  The residence of member & harp student Sabrina Goldfeder and her family in Beverly Hills was  the setting for the AHS-LA student recital in November 2015,at which AHS-LA student members of all ages shared their joy in learning the harp with an appreciative...

On May 16, 2015, the Los Angeles Chapter held a festive Spring Fling, to support the Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarship Fund. The young recipients of this year's scholarships (Erin Kim and Annette Lee) as well as two of the three Honorable Mention students (Faith...

Sunita Staneslow, internationally known Celtic harp performer, arranger and educator, stopped by Los Angeles (from her home in Israel) to give us two fascinating workshops and an inspiring concert.  At the Grace Lutheran Church in Pasadena, on the afternoon of...

January 4, 2015 was our annual membership meeting and potluck supper at the gracious Beverly Hills home of Dorothy Victor.  We heard about recent and upcoming events, were introduced to some of the new officers who were elected last August, informally entertained...

November 23, 2014 CELEBRATION OF NEW MUSIC FOR HARP Première Concert One of the missions of the American Harp Society is to encourage composition of quality new music for harp, and to that end the Los Angeles Chapter (made possible by a grant from the American Harp...

On November 16, 2014, the Stein-Goldfeder residence in Beverly Hills was once again the setting for a student recital,at which AHS-LA student members of all ages shared their joy in learning the harp with an appreciative audience.  Leora Weinreich performing. Student...

Elections for officers and board of directors for the upcoming  2-year term(September 2014 through August 2016) were held at Dorothy Victor's lovely home in Beverly Hills on August 24, 2014.  (See results of elections on ABOUT US page).  Of course, no...

Saturday, May 17, 2014 was our annual Spring Fling, our fundraiser for the Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarship Fund.  At the lovely home of the Stein-Goldfeder family, we heard the young recipients of this year's awards perform beautifully, assuring us that the future...

On February 23 and March 23, 2014, several harp students of all ages and levels participated in the Music Education Sessions (aka Auditions & Evaluations), which are held annually by the Los Angeles chapter in cooperation with the (National) American Harp...

The theme of the January 20, 2014 festive New Year's party and potluck dinner held at the lovely Beverly Hills home of Dorothy Victor was in honor of Valeria Finzi, a prominent and beloved 20th century harpist and harp teacher, originally from Italy, who lived for...

On January 29, 2014 AHS-LA presented a workshop COMPOSING FOR PEDAL HARP, at California State University Northridge. (FREE admission and open to the community.) Made possible by a grant from the American Harp Society. Composers in attendance learned about this...

On December 14, 2013, The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Harp Society Proudly presented Holiday Harp Extravaganza XVI a fun event for harpists throughout Southern California! See video on our Facebook page  see pix from previous extravaganzas: 2012, 2011, 2010 We...

On November 23, 2013, AHS-LA presented a FREE chamber music concert, in the beautiful auditorium of Diamond Bar High School (venue sponsored by Diamond Bar High School Performing Arts Academy):  "The Present... and the Future... Celebrating New Music for Harp". Some...

On Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, The Quantum Trio (consisting of flutist April Chocholaty, violist Chika Wie, and harpist Linda-Rose Hembreiker) performed a free recital of Liszt, Fauré, Saint-Saens and Debussy, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Long Beach. 

STUDENT RECITAL, Fall 2013  On the afternoon of November 3, 2013, listeners were treated to a delightful program of harp solos (and one trio with a harpist accompanied by her brother and sister on cello and violin) presented by student members of the Los Angeles...

On Sunday, May 19, 2013, some forty or fifty listeners were treated to performances by several talented young members of AHS-LA.  The Leadership Center of New Roads School in Santa Monica (part of Herb Alpert Educational Village) was the gracious, sun-filled room in...

May 5, 2013 was the chapter's annual Spring Fling concert for the benefit of the Valeria Finzi scholarship fund, which annually awards scholarships to a few of our chapter's most promising young harp students. At each Spring Fling, attendees are treated to...

AHS Concert Artist Elizabeth White Clark in intimate house concert (L to R: Alison Bjorkedal, who generously lent her harp; Elizabeth White Clark; hostess of the event Tina Lenert.) On the evening of Friday March 22, 2013, at the beautiful Lenert/Caveney home in...

          On Sunday, March 17, the second session of the 2013 Music Education program was held in Pasadena. Having applied the suggestions that Guest advisor Stephanie Osborne had offered at the first session in February, several students demonstrated their progress....

    MUSIC EDUCATION SESSION 1, February 17, 2013: Guest advisor Stephanie Osborne offers pointers to harp student Keira. The Los Angeles Chapter offers this program annually in conjunction with the (national) American Harp Society, which provides a...

On Monday, January 21, 2013, we met in the lovely harp-strewn Beverly Hills home of Dorothy Victor for our annual membership meeting/New Year’s party. During cocktail hour, many of us took turns playing for each other on Dorothy’s lever and pedal harps. Above:...

L to R: Caroline Hales, Yeonsu Kim, Xochitl Derycz, Mia Friedman, Sara Veerman, Teresa Labuda, Isabella Spring. (Not pictured: Ruriko Terada).   After a few years’ absence, the AHS-LA Student Recital has returned! Eight talented harp students shared their artistry...

Saturday, December 15, 2012: in the 15th year of our beloved tradition, harpists/harpers from all over Southern California gathered to share holiday cheer. We met again in the long central lobby of the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and played for assembled...

On October 6, 2012, AHS-LA was delighted to present a solo harp recital by New York-based harpist Grace Cloutier (in the chapel of the First Baptist Church, Pasadena, CA). Selections include works by Glinka, Prokoffief, Andrès, and two compositions by Los...

On Sunday, August 26, 2012, chapter members gathered at the lovely Beverly Hills home of our board member and Hostess with the Mostest, Dorothy Victor. We discussed upcoming events, including taking suggestions from members. We voted on the membership fee and other...

Our gracious hostess of many AHS-LA events, Dorothy Victor, once again opened her harp-strewn Beverly Hills home to our members and members' guests, to celebrate another new year full of wonderful harp events. We enjoyed cocktails, played for each other, and shared a...

Our Spring Fling (May 6, 2012), which annually raises funds for the continuation of the Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarships to young local harpists, featured performances by the outstanding young harpists who have been awarded this year's scholarships: Annette Lee...

American Harp Society-Los Angeles Masterclass Series Presents World-Renowned Harpist Heidi Lehwalder Sunday, November 13, 2011 1-3PM   Heidi Lehwalder Heidi Lehwalder, harpist, has performed as guest artist with more than 65 orchestras throughout the United...

Above: Guest Advisor Allison Allport listens to a performance by Kalista Base, March 2012 The Music Education Sessions (also known as Music Ed 'Auditions & Evaluations', or A&E) are coordinated by Linda-Rose Hembreiker (2nd VP and Education Chair), and are...

Louise Trotter (seated) with workshop participants and AHS-LA board members. On April 21, 2012, the Los Angeles chapter was delighted to present the beloved Texan, harpist and teacher Louise Trotter, in a 4-hour workshop  followed by a late-afternoon concert.  Both...

On Sunday, March 18, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Pasadena, musician / teacher / author / editor Stewart Gordon gave us our chapter an inspiring talk about preparing for performances, based on subjects in his book 'Mastering the Art of Performance'.  Subjects...

On the evening of January 17, 2011, we honored Sylvia Woods for her inestimable contributions to the harp world and heard about her fascinating life, at a potluck dinner graciously hosted by Dorothy Victor at her home in Beverly Hills... Sylvia Woods! Sylvia Woods has...

Our gracious hostess of many AHS-LA events, Dorothy Victor, once again opened her harp-strewn Beverly Hills home to our members and members' guests, to celebrate another new year full of wonderful harp events. We enjoyed cocktails, played for each other, and shared a...

December 17, 2011: in the 14th year of our beloved tradition, harpists/harpers from all over Southern California gathered to share holiday cheer. We met this time in the long central lobby of the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and played for assembled staff,...

December 17, 2011: in the 14th year of our beloved tradition, harpists/harpers from all over Southern California gathered to share holiday cheer. We met this time in the long central lobby of the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and played for assembled staff,...

Spring Fling Fundraiser / Tribute to Dorothy Remsen - 5/22/11 Every Spring, the Los Angeles Chapter hosts a 'Spring Fling' concert and get-together, as our most important fundraiser for the chapter and for the Valeria Finzi Scholarship Fund (which annually awards...

Solo Harp Concert: Dominique Piana presents The Romantic Spirit On April 15th, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Long Beach, CA, Dominique Piana presented "The Romantic Spirit" in a solo harp concert. Harpist Dominique Piana lived in Southern California for 20 years...

Congratulations to the 2011 Valeria Finzi Scholarship Awards Recipients! First Prize: Jessica Wang $1,000Second Prize: Isabella Spring $500Third Prize: Nina Agelvis $350 (These larger prizes are funded by the Valeria Finzi Memorial Scholarship Fund and by the Los...

In April 2010, auditions were held for scholarships underwritten by the Valeria Finzi Memorial Fund. Thirteen young  harp students played for the committee of harpists Alison Bjorkedal and Ted Nichelson and flutist Boglarka Kiss.  Monetary awards were made...

Our Music Education sessions 2011 were coordinated by Linda-Rose Hembreiker. One was held on the last Sunday in February (the 27th) and the second one was held on the last Sunday in March (the 27th). Harp students of all ages and all levels were encouraged...

In May 2010, our annual Spring Fling fundraiser was held at the outdoor stage at Tina Lenert’s home in Pasadena. The Valeria Finzi scholarship winners performed, as did the jazzy and creative harp duo of Paul Baker and Ellie Choate. This Spring Fling was dedicated to...

In December 2010, our tradition of sharing holiday cheer with an impromptu mega-ensemble of harps continued with our thirteenth annual ‘Harp Extravaganza’ led by Elaine Litster.  Roughly two dozen volunteer harpers and harpists (from beginners to professionals)...

In November 2010, our chapter was proud to present AHS Concert Artist Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton in a solo recital at the Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles.  She played a wonderful variety of virtuosic music showcasing many moods and styles. The entire first...