Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble
Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble (BAYHE) is a group of young harpists playing a wide variety of musical styles on a wide variety of folk and lever harps. Directed by Diana Stork, this ensemble wowed audiences at their debut performance at the Palace of Fine Arts November 1999 with their musical skill and sensitivity.
Under Diana’s direction, BAYHE members learn a wide variety of multi-cultural and other music, to play harmoniously and graciously together, and to share their music in performances throughout the Bay Area. Diana composes and arranges music for BAYHE and encourages new music and arrangements to be written for them. BAYHE also performs music that is written by some of the young members.
Some of their Northern California performances have included: the Dorothy Spreckels Performing Arts Center the Zeum, San Francisco City Hall, Randall Museum, Koret Auditorium, Yerba Buena Gardens Special 9-11 Peace Concert, Channel 25 TV, numerous radio appearances, and as featured artists for the Annual Alzheimer’s Walk on Treasure Island.
In 2003, Diana hatched an ambitious project called Lily’s Treasures which resulted in a book of original compositions by BAYHE members based on a story written for BAYHE by author Maureen Ustenci. In 2005, BAYHE recorded a CD of multi-cultural and original music (written specifically for harp) called Music from Around the World.
Diana has been assisted over the years by a number of well-known Bay area harpists and harp teachers including Shawna Spiteri, Portia Diwa, and Amelia Romano.
BAYHE is always growing. If you have a child in the San Francisco Bay Area who plays the harp and is interested in joining the ensemble, contact the MCMF office for details.
Comments
“I am in complete admiration of the stunning ensemble performance of Diana’s harp students in the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble at a recent Festival of Harps concert. Children of all ages played at a level suitable for Carnegie Hall, and it was obvious that each and everyone loved what they were doing! Diana has a profound ability to inspire her students.”
– Ann Heymann, International Recording and Performing Harpist
“I was very struck by your Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble. You must love your work with these children and be very proud. It is encouraging and heartening to see.”– Bob Brown
“The concert at the Church of St. Madeleine was absolutely superb! My heart just leaps in bounds when I hear you and your ensemble play. Thank you for that wonderful gift of harp music. You’ve touched so many lives.”– Lizae Reyes