Harp Enchants Harpist from Newport Beach, CA

Sonia Marie Olivas is an orange county premier harpist, music teacher and an international therapeutic harp practitioner playing beautiful harp music and enchanting events for a lifetime for over 20 years with each setting unique and special. She has enchanted audiences with her technique and broaden her perception of the harp world through her travels to Austria, Barcelona, Italy, London, Mexico City, Scotland as well as here at home throughout the United States. Some of these experiences include the IV Encuentro Latin Harp Festival in Mexico City, Susan Allen's Harp course in Spain & France, Arrowhead and Pacific Palisades. She is currently the resident harpist at Vivante, Newport Atria Senior Centers, Lutheran Church, Care Connections Network, Sherman Library & Gardens. She is also the Cameo Chair for Philharmonic Society Orange County which sponsors music education for over 160k children from K-12 grade. Here are a few ideas of her playing engagements, Weddings, Harp Music Therapy, Concerts, Birthdays, Banquets, Festivals, Afternoon Tea, Celebration of Life, Holiday Parties, Church Services, Yoga Retreats, Funerals/Memorials, Quinceañearas, Art Exhibits, Recording Sessions, Charity Galas, Harp Lessons, Piano Lessons, Senior Events, Fashion Malls, Princess Tea Parties and just about anything you can think of! Music Genres: Classical, Latin, Broadway Musicals, Pop/Modern, Celtic, Christmas, Disney, Movie Themes, Jewish and original compositions. Reviews and Testimonies The Signal's Margie Clark writes “Sonia Olivas cast her magical spell as the music seems to bounce off of her finger tips as the flowing melodies moved from the deeper pensive tones of the Nocturne, to the brighter, playful notes of the barcarolle.” Weddings “You have truly enriched our happiness with your thoughtful gift. Thank you for giving us a lasting memory of your kindness and generosity. Thanks for the beautiful harp playing!” Amy & Caleb Kaltenbach (Bride & Groom) Harp Therapy “Thank you Sonia for your wonderful harp playing. I could still feel the vibrations on my hospital bed even after you had stopped playing. As I recorded you playing on my phone, I could see the smiles on the faces of the people around the room putting them at ease. This was truly a special treat, thank you again for your visit today. Sincerely, Violet Viall Banquets “Hi Sonia, I would like you to perform again at the Gov Solutions Group Holiday Party…Please let me know if you are available as your music was enjoyed by all last year.” Thanks, Robbie Cameron Birthdays "Thanks for sharing your beautiful music with us at my 90th birthday party… All seemed to enjoy it and especially me.” Thanks, Del Alkema Harp Music Album: Sunset Harp Melodies a harp & flute album beautifully performed by Sonia Marie Olivas. Ms. Olivas graduated with a B.A. degree in music and a post baccalaureate emphasis on Early Childhood Education from the California State University of Northridge. In addition, she has also attended the Southern California Conservatory of Music. She has studied under the expert tutelage of such talented harpists as Maria Casale (graduate of Juilliard School of Music), Susan Allen (California Arts Institute), Alfredo Rolando Ortiz ( internationally acclaimed Paraguayan Harpist), Michael Rado (San Francisco Opera Theatre), Stella Castelluci (renown pop, jazz harpist) and Christina Tourin (International Harp Therapy Director). Music has been an active part of her life through school, church and private institutions, since the age of 7. Her musical career has given Ms. Olivas the opportunity to sing in choirs (classical, gospel) play the flute (classical, jazz), piano (classical), violin (classical), marimbas, mbira (African), steel pans-doubles (Calypso), and the kenong, kempyang (Gamelan). The harp however, has always stayed her true passion. Her journey started out by mere chance when she met one of her best friends and was asked by this friend to take over the harp lessons, on a lap harp that was 2 ft. tall and had 20 strings. She grew fond of the harp lessons and so finally, she had chosen her primary instrument that was to change her life forever. Concert Credits: St. Andrews Christmas, Newport Beach Chamber, The Red CAT Theatre, New West Symphony, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (mini concert series), Torrey Pines Christian Christian Church (Cancer Benefit Concert), Shepherd of the Hills Church (Not So Silent Night) The World Harp Orchestra, and La Jolla Riford Library (Christmas Concert) to name a few.