The harp dates back to around 15000 BC, making it one of the world’s oldest instruments. It has been played and appreciated for thousands of years, from ancient cultures around the world to modern-day high school orchestras, but its legacy is coming to end in this district. Since 2007, the harp program has inspired students across the district, but now leaders have chosen to phase out the program in response to a financial deficit.
“Harp has been a really big culture in Frisco orchestras,” Harpist Tiffany Lee, ‘27, said. “It’s a special instrument. Not a lot of people play it. I had piano experience before and I wanted to connect that experience to the instrument. The piano and harp are very similar. I feel really sad, because no one’s gonna experience what I experienced. There’s not a lot of harpists in general and to think that there’s not going to be anymore in the Frisco area because no one’s teaching them is really upsetting.”
Since the harp program at Frisco is fairly small, it provides an opportunity for students to learn and bond with other harpists, creating lasting memories while they grow as musicians.
“We play with the orchestra, but we also have a lot of different programs for us harpists as individuals,” Lee said. “We have solo programs and we have a harp recital where everyone in FISD plays together. There’s hundreds of harps, and you just get to play all together with everyone, and it’s really interesting.”
Though most middle and elementary schools do not have programs for harp, Alissa Lin, ‘27, was determined to play from an early age.
“I started in elementary school, ” Lin said. “I just found it really cool, it was really interesting and fun. I did private lessons throughout middle school and then I just started the harp program last year.”
The experiences and knowledge gained from the harp program can also help students prepare for their futures. Lin is considering using what she’s learned while in the program to pursue harp in college.
“At the beginning of the year they usually do an event where they teach us different things every year,” Lin said. “This year was about what to do after high school, what you can do with harp, as you can take it as a major or a minor, stuff like that, so I think I might take a minor when I start college.”
Learning to play the harp is not something that most young musicians have the opportunity to do, especially in high school. Though she respects the district’s decision, Lin feels disappointed that they chose to cut harp.
“I’m kind of neutral on it because it’s their decision, but I’m not happy with it,” Lin said. “It’s been here for a long while, there’s a lot of benefits to it, and also there’s a lot of places you can take money from besides just taking away the harp program.”
The harp program may not be able to last forever, but the students’ memories from being a part of it will. Before they said goodbye, Lee and Lin played in the program’s annual recital alongside harp students from across the district. The event took place at Independence High School on Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m.