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About Glissando

The Glissando Scholarship Program (Glissando) is the core program of the Lyra Society. Established in 2007 by Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harp of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Glissando provides harps, harp lessons, harp presentations, and college and financial aid counseling in schools at no cost to Philadelphia and Bronx School District students who have minimal access to music education. Since its establishment, the program has reached over 4,000 young people through educational in-school harp presentations, offering them a unique opportunity to explore their musical talents.

Glissando is the leading model for harp programs in the world and the sole harp lesson provider for the Philadelphia School District. Because Lyra supports students through their developmental years and keeps in close contact with them as alums, our students have unmatched opportunities to connect with mentors and friends, develop confidence to define and reach their goals, and find their distinctive voices.

Additional Glissando! Perks:

College & Financial Aid Guidance – Lyra students receive college and financial aid guidance from Lyra’s College & Financial Aid Committee. 100% of our students attend college, university or conservatory. See our college acceptance list here.

All City Orchestra Program – Lyra holds mock auditions to select three to four students to play in All-City Orchestra. Students receive orchestral coaching and perform with the orchestra in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center in March.

All City Orchestra Summer Academy – in partnership with The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Lyra provides orchestral programming for the summer for our harp students, free of charge.

Annual School Presentations – Lyra’s presentations expose thousands of students across the district to the harp and gauge interest for new prospective students for Lyra.

Ann Hobson Pilot Award – presented to an outstanding alum of the Lyra Society who completes a degree in music, demonstrates excellence in harp musicianship, pursues a professional career as a harpist, and champions cultural equity through music education.

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Glissando by Numbers

Lyra’s Student Diversity

Glissando! Teaching Artists

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