Lyra Society

The Lyra Society, established in 2004 by Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harp of The Philadelphia Orchestra, introduces the harp to students in the Philadelphia community, expand the harp repertoire by commissioning gifted composers, and educate young people through music. 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, Philadelphia High School for Girls, as well as Theater Arts Production Company High School in the Bronx, NY in partnership with Midori & Friends. Your generosity enables us to commission new works by world-renowned composers and young composers at the start of their careers. To implement these Awards, the Lyra Society collaborates with prominent non-profit institutions including the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. Commissions feature the harp in solo, chamber and concerto compositions. Both professionals and outstanding students perform these new works. Please contact us on how you can sponsor an individual harpist or if you want to make a gift to the Lyra Society to defray our organization's expenses. The Lyra Society is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law