The USA International Harp Competition presents
Benefit Concert for the 12th USA International Harp Competition
Friday, November 5, 2021, 7:00 pm
First United Methodist Church
219 E. 4th Street
Bloomington, IN 47408
left to right: sophie thorpe, ari schwartz, charles prestinari, deepa johnny, fan-fen tai
Featuring Fan-fen Tai, Sophie Thorpe and Ari Schwartz (harpists) with guest artists Deep Johnny (mezzo-soprano) and Charles Prestinari (organ) in music by Godefroid, de Falla, Caccini, Handel, Smetana, Purcell and Parish-Alvars.
About the Artists
Dr. Fan-Fen Tai (harp) is an adjunct faculty member of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a co-director of the harp program of Jacobs Academy. She is passionate about teaching and sharing the love of harp and music with her students of all ages. She is a prize winner of many harp competitions including the Vera Dulova International Harp Competition and festival in Moscow and has performed in many international venues. She was the soloist to with Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Asian Youth Symphony Orchestra, the University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra and more. Other than harping, she loves nature, hiking, tangoing, and her life in Bloomington with her husband, Charles and her daughters Lyla and Chloe.
Sophie Thorpe (harp) currently studies harp performance at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University with professor Elzbieta Szmyt. She is a Bachelor of Music candidate as well as a math major and a member of the Hutton Honors College. Sophie started classical music at age five on piano, turning her focus to the harp at the age of ten. From 2016 to 2019, Sophie was the principal harpist of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, and in 2019, she won the St. Louis Civic Orchestra’s Florence Frager Young Artist Competition. During the summer of 2019, Sophie was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, touring the US and Europe and performing at Tanglewood Music Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie, and the BBC Proms. In 2020, she attended the National Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Institute Online.
Ariel Sol (“Ari”) Bertulfo Schwartz (harp) is at the cutting edge of musical arts as a composer, producer, and harpist. In his music, Ari aims to create community through person-oriented performance experiences. He thoroughly enjoys interdisciplinary work, drawing inspiration from modern media, storytelling, linguistics, sociology, and current events. Ari studies at the Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana with professors Jeremy Podgursky (composition) and Elzbieta Szmyt (harp). In all musical facets, Ari strives to dismantle traditional accessibility barriers and diversify both the stage and audience.
Deepa Johnny (mezzo-soprano) is originally from Muscat, Oman. She is a second- year master’s student in the voice performance program at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, currently studying with Carlos Montane. Deepa has competed in and won several competitions throughout her vocal career. In 2021, Deepa made her debut with IU Opera Theater’s production of Handel’s Xerxes singing the title role, Serse and Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea. This summer, Deepa was invited to join 14 other singers from around the country at the world-renowned Ravinia Steans Vocal Institute as a fellow presenting art song repertoire. With a passion to give back to her community, Deepa has partnered recently with the non-profit organization, A Better World Canada, to raise money for local projects and fundraisers associated with education reform.
Dr. Charles Prestinari (organ) is currently a member of the faculty of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, teaching collaborative piano (vocal) and serving as an opera coach with the Indiana University Opera Theater. He was chorus master of the San Diego Opera from 2011-2016. From 2004-2011, he was associated with New York City Opera, first as assistant chorus master and from 2007, as chorus master, working on over fifty different productions, including an Emmy-winning Live from Lincoln Center telecast of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Dr. Prestinari has also prepared choruses for The Aspen Music Festival, The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, The New York City Ballet, and The Manhattan School of Music. Dr. Prestinari is currently a music minister at First United Methodist Church, Bloomington.
