Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyrika Holmes
Hi Lyrika, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It depends on which part i start from lol. I began playing the harp in St. Louis, Mo at a performing arts magnet school program. I played piano, sax, and was currently in orchestra learning double bass, when my parents switched me to harp. I’ve been playing ever since. Grouting up in a musical family and performing arts setting, I learned the importance of the arts and saw first hand its impact not only on my life growing up, but many others. I decided after hs that I wanted to be able to share the same opportunities to others, so I went to college to become a music teacher. The stars seemed to really align because when I left us, and began working on me degree, my hs hired me as a music teaching harp consultant for 9th thru 12th Grade. And my previous instructor they hired her to continue with me through my Collegiate career. When I graduated with my Bachelor’s in music education with k12 certification, I was immediately offered a new job to teach music in Memphis, when I arrived at my second title I school I saw the arts disparities and how though the schools had an amazing orff music program, no schools offered harp in the state and at the elementary level besides recorder and choir no other instruments were offered unless you applied for a small grant for your school.
So as a fist step, I spoke with the Superintendent who had just transferred in. I told her my vision to integrate harp into the schools starting with a pilot program. Little did I know the Superintendent had taken harp lessons before and was also great friends with the past principal of my hs in st. Louis. She was super excited to help get this started for the students in Memphis. So with an amazingly supportive Superintendent and awesome principal Dr. Jevon Marshall, we were able to start the very first harp program in the state of Tennessee at the elementary level free of cost to the parents, and provided all the instruments.
The parents raved of the program and we were able to provide before school and after school lessons at no cost from 2005-2011, When the Superintendent left, the focus for the elementary schools shifted back to orff, and Due to the shortage of music teachers then, I traveled to 5 schools per week, no longer able to fully provide the program support I had because I was no longer at my main school. I knew I wanted to provide harp lessons as a focal point and other instruments to students who did not have access due to availability in their community, high costs of purchasing instruments and lessons. So, this is when we first began the talks of having a nonprofit organization that did just that. At this same time we decided to relocate to Atlanta to not only further my music career and my husbands career interests, but to find a community of like minded people to build Artz for the Harp.
Once in atl, I began teaching in rockdale Countyand also decided to start my first harp program there. It was a success. I realized that our program was something needed and though I had been providing before and after school programs for free all this time, we could be more impactful as a non profit obtaining grants, and other organizational support. In 2015 we became a nonprofit and since then have impacted the lives of over 6500 students of all ages with our youngest student being 4yrs and oldest 99yrs.!
I’m sure this is way more info than you need, feel free to chop it up
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I feel everything has moved in divine timing. If we didn’t have the beginning opportunities to see first hand the problems within the school systems, the lack of music and arts programs in underserved and under represented communities, we wouldn’t have known who needed is most. We were also able to witness the growth of the students through the arts and saw watch our first pilot 15 students all graduate from hs with 9 of them going on to college and 7 majoring or Minoring in music, and have graduated! The bumpiness along the way was necessary to get to where we are today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Beyong the nonprofit side, I am also a performing artist ( harpist & singer), actor, author and composer. I’ve performed for several film and TV shows, toured throughout Asia with cirque du soleil, created and composed music for shows and I have a few albums out.
As one of the few harpist and singers, I am known for blending songs and genres that speak to me. Though classically trained, I love to blend r&b, hip hop pop and jazz.
I think some people see a harp and their mind immediately goes to ahhh…yes Bach’s Prelude in C, Pachelbel’s Canon in D,….Wedding March..Clair De Lune.
I love showing the versatility of the harp and how it can play almost anything.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I think I’m happier seeing others succeed. I love watching my daughter achieve her goals, my husband and his rage room seeing success and watching my students gleam from ear to ear when they learn a new song.
I m also happy doing any of these activities: salsa dancing ,zumba, watching horror movies and partaking in spicy foods!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lyrikaholmes.com or www.artzfortheharp.org
- Instagram: @lyrikaholmes @artzfortheharp
- Facebook: @lyrikaholmes @artzfortheharp
- LinkedIn: Lyrika Holmes
- Twitter: @lyrikaholmes @artzfortheharp
- Youtube: @lyrikaholmes
Image Credits
Rious Photography
