Beyonce and Coldplay on the Harp? Talented Community Youth Will Show Us How on Monday

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Dear Cascade Patch:

The talents of young Atlanta harpists will be on display this Monday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at Carver School of Arts, 55 McDonough Blvd. The public is invited to this free performance, and no one will be disappointed.

The Urban Youth Harp Ensemble, made up of 45 musicians ranging in age from 10 to 18, will debut original arrangements of popular songs by Coldplay, The Beatles and Bruno Mars. Their goal is to show how the harp, which has a reputation as a refined instrument, can be used to play all types of music.

The Urban Youth Harp Ensemble is one of the only ensembles of its kind in the world. Students receive free harp instruction. The program, funded through grants and donations, was founded in 2000 by Elisabeth Remy Johnson, principal harpist with The Atlanta Symphony, and Roselyn Lewis, a former Atlanta Public Schools music teacher. For more information, go to urbanharp.org.

Under the direction of young and energetic artistic director Carolyn Lund, the students have already performed, "Halo," the beautiful ballad made famous by Beyonce. (See the clip here on Cascade Patch or check it out directly on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU0kEOpiQQA).

Don't miss this great concert, which is appropriate for all ages!

— Patti Ghezzi, Board Member, Urban Youth Harp Ensemble