Early Start, Dedication Pay Off for Young Harpist

There are many young musicians throughout Putnam County dedicated to honing their musical skills, but what may set Mahopac High School student Elizabeth Ojeda apart from her peers is the age at which she took up the harp.

Only 16 years old, Ojeda’s journey to master the stringed instrument began 13 years ago at the age of three, with something as simple as a young girl wanting a sweet treat.

“I asked my mom if we could stop in Café Piccolo in Mahopac for a cookie, and on the wall inside was an ad my harp teacher posted for lessons,” Ojeda said. “My mom thought it was a good way to get me involved in something.”

 

Ojeda and her teacher, Alyssa Reit, of Somers, have met and practiced once or twice a week since 1999; an intense schedule that remains the same today.

When their lessons began more than a decade ago, Ojeda had to perch herself atop a tall stool in order for her to barely reach around to strum the strings of the classical instrument.

Reit is Julliard trained under the instruction of Marcel Grandjany, one of two harpists who popularized the instrument early last century, and also sits on the board of the National Harp Association.

Ojeda landed her first gig at a very young age, performing at a bridal shower.

“It was kind of intimidating since I was so young, but it turned out well,” she said.

At the age of seven, Ojeda performed as the opening act for the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra.

“I was really young at that time, so I didn’t even know enough to be nervous,” she said jokingly.

At 11, she had the honor of playing Carnegie Hall with the Westchester Conservatory of Music.

A few years later at age 15, Ojeda played in the pit orchestra of the Taconic Opera for its production of the opera “Nabuco,” which proved to be a very eye-opening experience for the young musician.

“I would love to have my career to be involved with opera productions. ‘Nabuco’ showed me how much is put into operas, and you see how much people devote of themselves toward the overall goal.”

Not distracted by her professional level performances, Ojeda has continued to play in Mahopac High School productions, including “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Ojeda also was just recently accepted into the prestigious pre-college program at the Manhattan School of Music.

Of all the music written for the harp, Ojeda enjoys playing pieces written by French and Russian composers.

“They wrote harp music like no others,” Ojeda said.

From her perspective, Ojeda said an essential part of playing the harp is to, “have the passion for the music, in addition to simply playing it.”

Her mother Lucy said she is very proud of her daughter’s accomplishment at such a young age and explained what she believed was behind her daughter’s success.

“Liz plays with her soul. It’s one thing to be technically and mechanically perfect, but without the soul in the equation, it just isn’t like Liz’s playing,” her mother said.

While Ojeda said that her heart currently is devoted to becoming a professional harpist, she said becoming a school teacher, inspired by her father Jose’s career, might be an option, too.

Whatever career Ojeda settles on, she said playing the harp definitely will be part of her future, giving the wonderful experiences it already has afforded her.

“The harp gives people from anywhere an opportunity to make something of themselves, even a girl from a small town like me,” she said.