Alexander Boldachev in Concert
Join the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Harp Society for an extraordinary afternoon with
internationally acclaimed harpist Alexander Boldachev.
Sunday, September 27, 2026 4:00 pm
Menlo Park, CA
BUY TICKETS
Join the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Harp Society for an extraordinary afternoon with
internationally acclaimed harpist Alexander Boldachev.
Sunday, September 27, 2026 4:00 pm
Menlo Park, CA
BUY TICKETS
About Alexander Boldachev:
Internationally acclaimed harpist Alexander Boldachev is celebrated for his extraordinary artistry, virtuosity, and innovative approach to the harp. His performances span classical masterworks, contemporary favorites, improvisation, and original compositions, captivating audiences around the world.
A performer, composer, arranger, and educator, Boldachev has appeared on international stages and is the founder of the Zurich Harp Festival and World Harp Day. His remarkable versatility and engaging performance style have helped expand the possibilities of the harp for audiences around the globe. Brief promo video showcasing his various styles.
Sunday at 4:00 PM
New Community Church, 1100 Middle Avenue, Menlo Park
Adults $35 | Students $20
BUY TICKETS
Internationally acclaimed harpist Alexander Boldachev is celebrated for his extraordinary artistry, virtuosity, and innovative approach to the harp. His performances span classical masterworks, contemporary favorites, improvisation, and original compositions, captivating audiences around the world.
A performer, composer, arranger, and educator, Boldachev has appeared on international stages and is the founder of the Zurich Harp Festival and World Harp Day. His remarkable versatility and engaging performance style have helped expand the possibilities of the harp for audiences around the globe. Brief promo video showcasing his various styles.
Sunday at 4:00 PM
New Community Church, 1100 Middle Avenue, Menlo Park
Adults $35 | Students $20
BUY TICKETS
|
Welcome from the SVCAHS BoardDear SVC AHS members and other friends of the harp,
Thank you for visiting our website. We are a dynamic chapter, consisting of over 80 harp enthusiasts including professionals, teachers, students, amateurs and fans. We were honored to receive the Chapter of the Year Award from the American Harp Society in both 2010 and 2014. Every season we sponsor many wonderful concerts, details of which can be found on our Upcoming Chapter Events and Recent Chapter Events pages. As a harpist or parent of a harpist, you are invited to everything we do, and your participation is what makes it all worthwhile for us,. If you are a harp enthusiast, please check back frequently to see the high quality performances we sponsor. Our Event Calendar also lists public events where you can hear our member harpists performing. Congratulations to our Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble for their continued success and outreach. They were selected to perform at the World Harp Congress in Hong Kong in 2017, and at the American Harp Society National Conference in June, 2018. If you are looking for a harp teacher or to hire a performing harpist for a special event, please view the links at the top of the page for information about our members who teach and perform. |
Upcoming Chapter Events
Sunday, September 27, 2026. Fall Kickoff Event!
The Silicon Valley Chapter of the AHS is sponsoring Alexander Boldachev in concert. The concert will begin at 4 pm at New Community Church, 1100 Middle Ave, Menlo Park. Alexander will also give a 2-hour Master Class at New Community Church from 1-3 pm on September 27. Use the Tickets link to audit the Master Class and to attend the Concert. Between the two events, from 3-4pm, we will hold a reception on the patio as our Fall Kickoff Event.
Boldachev is an internationally acclaimed award-winning harpist, giving brilliant performances in both classical and popular music, and working as an improviser, arranger, and composer for film and theatre. This video shows his wide range of performance genres.
He has been an invited Professor in the Royal Academy of Music, Herb Alpert School of Music in UCLA and Milano Conservatory, and currently is adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University. He is the founder of the Zurich Harp Festival and World Harp Day.
Save the date for an exciting concert and bring your friends!
The Silicon Valley Chapter of the AHS is sponsoring Alexander Boldachev in concert. The concert will begin at 4 pm at New Community Church, 1100 Middle Ave, Menlo Park. Alexander will also give a 2-hour Master Class at New Community Church from 1-3 pm on September 27. Use the Tickets link to audit the Master Class and to attend the Concert. Between the two events, from 3-4pm, we will hold a reception on the patio as our Fall Kickoff Event.
Boldachev is an internationally acclaimed award-winning harpist, giving brilliant performances in both classical and popular music, and working as an improviser, arranger, and composer for film and theatre. This video shows his wide range of performance genres.
He has been an invited Professor in the Royal Academy of Music, Herb Alpert School of Music in UCLA and Milano Conservatory, and currently is adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University. He is the founder of the Zurich Harp Festival and World Harp Day.
Save the date for an exciting concert and bring your friends!
Sunday, September 20th, 4:00PM. Recital by Noël Wan, Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94109
A San Jose native, former SVCAHS member, and one of classical harp’s most distinctive emerging soloists, Noël Wan brings together her unique artistic voice and intellectual imagination in an all-new solo program, Les Fleurs du Mal. Pairing pieces by beloved late Romantic composers with exquisite twenty-first century works, she and her harp conjure a tangled, efflorescent world of decadence, perversion, and beauty.
Music by Rachmaninoff, Jenks, Faure, Callender, Puccini and more.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Master class with Noel Wan:
When: Saturday September 19 from 5-7 pm
Where: Sol Joseph recital hall at SFCM, 50 Oak Street, San Francisco; Open to the Public.
A San Jose native, former SVCAHS member, and one of classical harp’s most distinctive emerging soloists, Noël Wan brings together her unique artistic voice and intellectual imagination in an all-new solo program, Les Fleurs du Mal. Pairing pieces by beloved late Romantic composers with exquisite twenty-first century works, she and her harp conjure a tangled, efflorescent world of decadence, perversion, and beauty.
Music by Rachmaninoff, Jenks, Faure, Callender, Puccini and more.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Master class with Noel Wan:
When: Saturday September 19 from 5-7 pm
Where: Sol Joseph recital hall at SFCM, 50 Oak Street, San Francisco; Open to the Public.
Saturday, October 3, 2026. EFFERVESCENCE! Harp and Strings Concert and Workshop with Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
This concert will feature Marina Roznitovsky Oster, harp soloist, with the Bay Philharmonic Strings and Woodwinds performing works by Debussy, Handel, Mendelssohn, and more under the direction of conductor Jane K. Brown. The stirring program will include the world premieres of Iguazu and Una Luz en el Mar by Paraguayan harpist, composer, and renowned soloist Alfredo Rolando Ortiz.The program will feature several of Ortiz’s works, including a world premiere, with Alfredo and his wife traveling from Southern California for the event. Local student harpists are invited to perform in at least one of the pieces.
The Bay Area and Silicon Valley Chapters of AHS are supporting Alfredo’s visit. There will be a complimentary morning workshop with Alfredo for members and their guests. The harp ensemble will rehearse with the orchestra at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546. The concert will be at 4:00 p.m. at the same location.
Members interested in joining the orchestra for the harp ensemble pieces should contact conductor Jane Brown.
The harp ensemble will perform Ortiz’s Danza de Luzma and Llano, followed by Ms. Brown’s Celtic arrangement for harps and orchestra, O’Carolan’s Wedding Feast.
This concert will feature Marina Roznitovsky Oster, harp soloist, with the Bay Philharmonic Strings and Woodwinds performing works by Debussy, Handel, Mendelssohn, and more under the direction of conductor Jane K. Brown. The stirring program will include the world premieres of Iguazu and Una Luz en el Mar by Paraguayan harpist, composer, and renowned soloist Alfredo Rolando Ortiz.The program will feature several of Ortiz’s works, including a world premiere, with Alfredo and his wife traveling from Southern California for the event. Local student harpists are invited to perform in at least one of the pieces.
The Bay Area and Silicon Valley Chapters of AHS are supporting Alfredo’s visit. There will be a complimentary morning workshop with Alfredo for members and their guests. The harp ensemble will rehearse with the orchestra at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546. The concert will be at 4:00 p.m. at the same location.
Members interested in joining the orchestra for the harp ensemble pieces should contact conductor Jane Brown.
The harp ensemble will perform Ortiz’s Danza de Luzma and Llano, followed by Ms. Brown’s Celtic arrangement for harps and orchestra, O’Carolan’s Wedding Feast.
Chapter News
July 28 - August 3, 2026. One Harp World in Toronto, CA, The American Harp Society and World Harp Congress, the two largest harp societies in the world, joined together to present a truly unique international harp gathering, celebrating the artistic passions and cultural inclusivity of both organizations. Our member, Kristal Schwartz, led a panel on Youth Harp Ensemble and the Next Generation. Linda Rollo provided a video interview for the Tribute to Susann McDonald.
Our annual Student Education Sessions had a video submission date of March 22, 2026 and the recital was held May 3 at New Community Church in Menlo Park. 34 students participated this year. Our 2026 Adjudicator was Katherine Siochi, principal harpist of the San Francisco Symphony and was Gold Medalist of the 10th USA International Harp Competition.
Our 2025 Student Education Sessions recital was Saturday, March 29 at New CommunityChurch, 1100 Middle Ave, Menlo Park. 22 students participated in this year's sessions, and 16 students performed at the recital, ranging from our newest and youngest students to advanced high school students. All performed wonderfully. See photo album.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 2:00 pm. We held a social event honoring Dan Levitan for his for his many years of music contribution to the Silicon Valley, especially in his 40-year role as Principal Harp of the San Jose Symphony. The event was held at the Palo Alto home of Tamara Mead and was well attended. Dan told stories about his start as a harpist and many other experiences as a professional harpist. He also performed a variety of music for the audience.
Our 2025 Student Education Sessions recital was Saturday, March 29 at New CommunityChurch, 1100 Middle Ave, Menlo Park. 22 students participated in this year's sessions, and 16 students performed at the recital, ranging from our newest and youngest students to advanced high school students. All performed wonderfully. See photo album.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 2:00 pm. We held a social event honoring Dan Levitan for his for his many years of music contribution to the Silicon Valley, especially in his 40-year role as Principal Harp of the San Jose Symphony. The event was held at the Palo Alto home of Tamara Mead and was well attended. Dan told stories about his start as a harpist and many other experiences as a professional harpist. He also performed a variety of music for the audience.
Join us on Facebook to learn about harp happenings in the Silicon Valley and Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Feel free to send your upcoming events to our Communications Chair, Tamara Mead at [email protected]. https://www.facebook.com/SVCAHS
Continue to scroll down for more information on our Student Education Sessions and our Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble
Continue to scroll down for more information on our Student Education Sessions and our Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble
Student Education SessionsSES is an annually recurring event, sponsored by the American Harp Society. Participants, from the youngest and newest harp students through advanced pre-college musicians, prepare two harp pieces and perform them for an adjudicator in Session I. The adjudicator gives verbal and written feedback to the student to help them practice and improve. Session II takes place a month or so later, in the form of a public recital with all of the participants.
The deadline for video submissions for SES 2026 will be March 22, 2026. The SES II Recital will be held Sunday, May 3, 2:00 pm at New Community Church in Menlo Park. Our SES sessions have been very well attended, with typically 16-34 performers of various ages and levels. Our adjudicators have been renowned and highly qualified performers and instructors. We are so grateful to our director, Sonya Yu, who has made our chapter's SES program so successful, she is now leading the program for the entire American Harp Society. |
Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble (YES)
The SILICON VALLEY YOUTH HARP ENSEMBLE (also known as Youth Ensemble Success, or Y.E.S), is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Harp Society, has gained recognition and become sought after for community performances since its inception in January, 2014. The ensemble has performed in the chapter's String Fever/Harp Extravaganza concerts, numerous local venues and for nonprofit organizations, as well as being invited to play for the 2017 World Harp Congress in Hong Kong, and at the 2018 American Harp Society National Conference. The first piece the ensemble recorded is Christmas Combo, arranged by its director, Sonya Yu. A sample of the Christmas recording may be heard at this link: Jingle bells
The young ensemble members (aged 8-16) not only play the harp well, but also learn the qualities of leadership, management, technology skills, and the discipline to work with professional recording specialists. You can find more information about joining the Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble, and about its future performances at www.harpyes.com.
The Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble is currently accepting new members. Contact Sonya Yu to submit a video audition. In addition to preparing for performances, our students take on leadership roles to help manage the group, and senior members mentor and coach the new members. The group performs occasionally at retirement communities and public benefit events. The ensemble will be participating in the October 3, 2026 Bay Philharmonic concert with Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, and performing at the San Jose Museum of Art in December. They are also preparing for the 2027 AHS Harp Ensemble Festival.
The young ensemble members (aged 8-16) not only play the harp well, but also learn the qualities of leadership, management, technology skills, and the discipline to work with professional recording specialists. You can find more information about joining the Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble, and about its future performances at www.harpyes.com.
The Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble is currently accepting new members. Contact Sonya Yu to submit a video audition. In addition to preparing for performances, our students take on leadership roles to help manage the group, and senior members mentor and coach the new members. The group performs occasionally at retirement communities and public benefit events. The ensemble will be participating in the October 3, 2026 Bay Philharmonic concert with Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, and performing at the San Jose Museum of Art in December. They are also preparing for the 2027 AHS Harp Ensemble Festival.
The Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble (YES) enjoys some time together in March of 2025.
We want to send out a huge THANK YOU! to Janet Hamm, who generously donated her Venus Model 75 (Premier) 46-string semi-grand pedal harp to the Silicon Valley Chapter of the AHS for use with the Silicon Valley Youth Harp Ensemble.
Student Scholarship Program
The Silicon Valley Harp Society is devoted to helping harp students with special financial needs. If you are a harp student with a special financial need and would like to apply for scholarship funding, please provide the following information: 1) Name, 2) Address, 3) Telephone, 4) Email Address, 5) A description of your financial need, your family support, and for what purpose the funds would be used. Please tell us why you would like scholarship assistance and what your goals are as a harpist.
Send this information to Lynne Rovin, Scholarship Committee Chair, at [email protected]
The Silicon Valley Harp Society is devoted to helping harp students with special financial needs. If you are a harp student with a special financial need and would like to apply for scholarship funding, please provide the following information: 1) Name, 2) Address, 3) Telephone, 4) Email Address, 5) A description of your financial need, your family support, and for what purpose the funds would be used. Please tell us why you would like scholarship assistance and what your goals are as a harpist.
Send this information to Lynne Rovin, Scholarship Committee Chair, at [email protected]
About Us
The Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Harp Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.