Harpist Celeste El-Darazi, a sophomore at LAHS, plays a solo during a concert with Farmington High School Orchestra. Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Celeste El-Darazi, a sophomore at Los Alamos High School and a harpist with the LAHS Symphonic Strings, was recently selected to play with the Farmington High School Orchestra during a concert in early March. Monica Leaming, director of the Farmington High School Orchestra, noticed Celeste during her involvement with the Northern New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) All- State Symphony Orchestra rehearsals.
“She played so professionally and presented herself in a very mature manner,” Ms. Leaming wrote in a letter to Michelle Rosette, the orchestra director at LAHS.
Ms. Leaming was in need of a harpist for the music her students would be performing.
“I noticed a harp part that I thought would really add to our concert. As I watched Celeste rehearse, I knew that she would be a great addition to our ensemble,” she wrote.
Celeste accepted the offer to perform with the FHS Chamber Orchestra for their March concert. It was an opportunity for Celeste to get a taste of how it might feel to be a professional musician. She received the music through email, prepared the music on her own, and then showed up ready to perform.
Ms. Leaming wrote, “I was stunned at how this young sophomore musician fit seamlessly within our group and how her part added so much to the music. I gave her an opportunity to play a solo at our concert as the Farmington community doesn’t have many opportunities to hear a harp in a soloist manner. Celeste said she has never played a solo in front of an audience like that either, so it was a great opportunity for her. Her performance was very well received.”
“I already have thoughts about how to include Celeste in future performances during her high school career. I appreciate the Los Alamos public schools for supporting music in your schools,” Ms. Leaming added in her email message.
Celeste accepted the offer to perform with the FHS Chamber Orchestra for their March concert. It was an opportunity for Celeste to get a taste of how it might feel to be a professional musician. She received the music through email, prepared the music on her own, and then showed up ready to perform.
Ms. Leaming wrote, “I was stunned at how this young sophomore musician fit seamlessly within our group and how her part added so much to the music. I gave her an opportunity to play as olo at our concert as the Farmington community doesn’t have many opportunities to hear a
harp in a soloist manner. Celeste said she has never played a solo in front of an audience like that either, so it was a great opportunity for her. Her performance was very well received.”
“I already have thoughts about how to include Celeste in future performances during her high
school career. I appreciate the Los Alamos Public Schools for supporting music in your schools,”
Ms. Leaming added in her email message.
“I think it is important to note the district cooperation and collaboration, and appreciate that
music crosses cultural and physical divides,” said Ms. Rosette. “Music is a universal language
that bonds us altogether.”