The Lyra Society provides access to the harp through education, performance, and new music. Since its founding in 2004 by Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Harpist Elizabeth Hainen, The Lyra Society has touched the lives of over 3,500 students, established harp lesson programs in six schools, founded an annual summer program for particularly gifted harpists, and commissioned over 20 works from young composers. Midori & Friends is partnering with the Lyra Society to bring tuition-free harp instruction for students at Theatre Arts Production Company in the Bronx.
GLISSANDO! is the educational program of the Lyra Society. Established in 2007 by Elizabeth Hainen, the Principal Harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the GLISSANDO! program provides harps and lessons to students in Philadelphia Schools. Since its establishment, GLISSANDO! has reached over 2000 young people throughout Philadelphia through multiple educational in-school presentations and has provided three new concert grand harps and two lever harps in schools for daily student use. Glissando currently provides weekly lessons to 30 young harp students across Central High School, Girard Academic Music Program, KIPP West Philadelphia Elementary, Julia R. Masterman School, and the Philadelphia High School for Girls.