Community Outreach
AYHE Mentors
The Mentorship Program serves as an adjunct to our educational programs as well as the Harp Therapy Program and Summer Institutes, drawing mentors from the more proficient student harpists in the core Performance Ensembles.
These students commit to working for a year with their designated student or group of students and receive specialized training from HARPS-AYHE prior to doing so. The relationships developed between the mentors from the core ensembles and their disadvantaged proteges are socially and developmentally positive for both.
AYHE Ambassadors
The AYHE Ambassadors Program is a community service program in which AYHE students perform over 300 concerts annually throughout the region. AYHE Ambassadors perform for large events such as the Richmond Forum, galas, receptions, open-houses, parties, and weddings, often in collaboration with other non-profits. In addition, our young harpists play in venues such as coffee-shops, stores, restaurants, and other high traffic areas, and present educational programs in local schools, at after-school programs, and for civic and church-based groups, reaching hundreds of children and adults each year. The service hours the students accumulate are recognized by the President's Volunteer Service Awards.
Noah's Children
The AYHE, in partnership with Noah's Children, Central Virginia's only pediatric palliative care hospice, welcomes students ages 5 and up to the inspiring world of music, where the only requirement is a desire to learn! Students who participate will have the opportunity (even though new to the harp) to develop musicianship skills, hone ensemble playing, and enrich their musical learning in a positive and supportive group class.
By providing this outreach to children whose siblings are seriously ill, the AYHE strives to use the harp as a catalyst for personal growth.
Young at Harp
Young at Harp is a community service program which focuses on local retirement communities, nursing homes, and senior centers as experienced student harpists perform solo concerts, small ensemble concerts and educational presentations in these venues.
We reach over 50 nursing homes annually in the region. In addition to our on-site performances, we have cultivated relationships with activities directors and offer group rate tickets to residents to our community concert events. We have seen an increase in audience numbers due to these efforts.