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.

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.

Maryanne Meyer maintains an active performance calendar as an orchestral harpist, chamber musician, and soloist throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Maryanne performs regularly with ensembles including Ocean City Pops and the Delaware, Anchorage and Annapolis Symphony Orchestras, is Principal Harpist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for the current season, and played second harp with the Baltimore Symphony for over ten years.

A dedicated pedagogue, Maryanne has developed a flourishing private teaching studio and is the resident Teaching Artist at three Philadelphia middle and high schools through the Philadelphia nonprofit Lyra Society, of which she is also Director of Education.

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.

Maryanne teaches for Lyra Society at Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP), Masterman School, Northeast High School.

Medgina Maitre believes in pushing boundaries. She believes that in a constantly changing world, anything is possible. We use the gifts we have been given, and the foundations that were laid for us to continue pushing the limits of our discipline. Having earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University (2023) under the instruction of Elizabeth Hainen, the young harpist is making big strides. Even more as she returns to Temple University to complete her Master of Music degree focused on harp performance.

Harpist Katherine Ventura has performed throughout the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra member.   She has performed in some of the most prestigious halls in the world including Carnegie Hall in New York, Royal Albert Hall in London, UK, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Spain, Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan.