Internationally-recognized youth harp ensemble up for Grammy Award

The American Youth Harp Ensemble, under the direction of Lynnelle Ediger-Kordzaia, submitted an album to the awards group for consideration.

November 13, 2015; 9:20 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

A local youth musical group is under consideration for a 2015 Grammy Award. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynnelle Ediger-Kordzaia, a nationally recognized music educator who also directs the locally-based Academy of Music and teaches at Richmond Montessori School, the American Youth Harp Ensemble has released an album for consideration by the awards group.

The group’s album, “Caravan: 10 Harps, 10,000 Miles,” has made it to the long list but must receive enough votes by the Grammy voting membership to receive the award. The album’s tracks range from classical to jazz including selections from “West Side Story,” Caravan, and major orchestral repertoire.

The ensemble includes high school students and alumni including three former Richmond Montessori School students, some of whom have been in the group since they were small children.

“This has been a culmination of 15 years of extraordinary music making with young musicians,” said Ediger. “The Grammy would provide wide-spread awareness of their unique musical artistry, especially as the only harp ensemble on the ballot.”

The ensemble has completed 21 national and international tours, hundreds of performances, recordings, and has been featured on CNN, NBC, PBS, and NPR.

“The recording truly a labor of love. As an ensemble, performing in major venues across the nation and around the world, the relationship we had with the music and with one another as performers made for truly electrifying performances,” Ediger continued. “For years, we’ve been developing innovative repertoire and commissioning works from leading composers to fully explore the incredible range and versatility of the harp ensemble. We all knew it was important to create a lasting tribute to this artistic achievement.”

RVANews file photo/Trevor Dickerson