Elizabeth Hainen, Artistic Director & Founder

Elizabeth Hainen, has earned an international reputation as one of classical music’s great harp ambassadors. Hailed by the Washington Post for her “unusual presence with silky transparency” and by the New York Times for her “earthy solidarity,” Hainen has thrilled audiences throughout the world with programs showcasing the diversity—and virtuosity—of her modern-day instrument.

As Principal Harp with The Philadelphia Orchestra for over twenty-five years, she has presented numerous featured performances to captivated audiences and has been praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer for “her ability to blend and color the musical line,” and “to find transparency in an almost timeless atmosphere.” In high demand as a guest artist, Ms. Hainen has collaborated with such eminent conductors and musicians as Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Michael Stern and the Juilliard String Quartet. In addition to The Philadelphia Orchestra, she has appeared as concerto soloist with the City of London Sinfonia, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Bulgaria National Radio Orchestra, Mexico State Symphony, and has appeared regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. As an international juror, she has adjudicated for the Baltimore International Guitar Competition, Korea International Harp Competition (Seoul) Lily Laskine Competition (Paris), and Suoni d’Arpa (Saluzzo) as well as appearing at festivals in Cartagena (Colombia), OZ (Australia), Lyon & Healy Harptacular (Chicago) and Shanghai Arts Festival (China). Her most recent recording, Home, was described by The Irish Times as “utterly gorgeous.” A champion of new music, Ms. Hainen gave the US, China, European and Australian Premieres of the Nu Shu: Secret Songs of Women, written especially for her by Tan Dun. The world premiere audio and video recording with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick was released in the 2021-22 season.

Elizabeth Hainen’s extraordinary progress took her to Indiana University School of Music, where she received Bachelor and Artist Diploma degrees as a student of Susann McDonald. She serves as the Artistic Director for the USA International Harp Competition in the very organization founded by her teacher as well as being the Silver medalist in the first competition in 1989. Hainen holds the Maryjane Mayhew Barton Chair in Harp Studies for the Curtis Institute of Music and also teaches on the faculty at Boyer School of Music, Temple University. As Founding Artistic Director of the Lyra Society, an organization to promote new works for the harp and educate young harpists, she has provided educational outreach to hundreds of school children in urban Philadelphia.

Helen Liu Gerhold, Executive Director

Described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as an “exceptionally fine” player, Helen Gerhold is a seasoned international performer, having played solos at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Stars of Tomorrow Concert at the USA International Harp Competition, and the Focus on Youth Concert at the 2011 World Harp Congress. She has been a featured soloist at the Lyon & Healy Summer Concert Series, at the Philadelphia Harp Music Festival, on National Public Radio’s From the Top, with the Lower Merion Symphony Orchestra, and with the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra. Among her accolades are the 2013 U.S. International Lyon & Healy Awards and third prize in the Young Professional division of the American Harp Society’s National Competition. She went on the 2017 Philadelphia Orchestra Asia Tour as substitute Second Harp, and was a 2017 Tanglewood Music Center Harp Fellow. Most recently, she played as Second Harp with the Metropolitan Opera in Carnegie Hall, then in their staged World Premiere run of The Hours by Kevin Puts.

Helen has been playing with The Philadelphia Orchestra as a substitute since age 17 and was also Principal Harp of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra for five seasons. She has been featured in the Harp Column Magazine and on Philadelphia’s 6abc Action News.

In 2001, Helen Gerhold received a harp from her aunt, harpist Yi Liu, and her first lesson with Miss Lucile Lawrence. She is the youngest student of Miss Lucile Lawrence’s and strives to continue her strong legacy. Gerhold continued her harp training with Ms. Lawrence, Virginia Flanagan, Dewey Owens, Judy Loman, and recently graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, having studied with Elizabeth Hainen as the Marilyn Costello Fellow. In January 2018, she was named Director of Education and September 2019, Executive Director for The Lyra Society, a non-profit organization.

Maryanne Meyer, Director of Education & Teaching Artist

Maryanne Meyer maintains an active performance calendar as orchestral harpist, chamber musician, and solo recitalist throughout five Mid-Atlantic states and in her hometown of Vincennes, Indiana. Maryanne performs regularly as a substitute harpist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. An increasingly sought-after guest soloist, she has recently performed concertos with the Annapolis Chamber Players and the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra. A dedicated pedagogue, Maryanne has developed a flourishing private teaching studio and is the resident Teaching Artist at the Girard Academic Music Program, Masterman College Preparatory Middle and High school, and KIPP Elementary School in Philadelphia through the Glissando Program of The Lyra Society. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer Diploma in harp performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she studied with Distinguished Professor of Music Susann McDonald. She completed her Master of Music studies at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Zora Nelson, Director of Community Initiatives

Zora Nelson is a current undergraduate student at New York University, where she is studying harp performance with renowned harpist and recording artist, Brandee Younger. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Zora began her musical career when she was nine years old in the Play On, Philly music program, a program which is sponsored by the Lyra Society. She represented POP at conferences and board meetings as a student ambassador and has been featured in multiple performances within the program. Through POP and other ensembles, such as All Catholic Youth Orchestra and the Temple University Preparatory harp ensemble, she has performed across the east coast from Georgia to New York. As someone who has been directly impacted by the inequities of the classical music world, Zora holds organizations like the Lyra Society in high regard and is honored to be a part of this initiative.

In addition to her musical endeavors, social justice advocacy is a subject that Zora prioritizes in her life. Disturbed by the 2018 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the gun violence that she had witnessed within her city, she was moved to use her voice and take charge. In 2019 she was granted the title of Communications Director for March For Our Lives Pennsylvania, a fellow non-profit organization that centers around promoting gun violence prevention policies. This position led her to her current interest in storytelling to help non-profit organizations engage their communities and reach their potential. 

When she’s not writing or practicing harp, you can find Zora roller skating around New York City.