Name: Amanda Kartawijaya

Grade: 10

Fine art: orchestra

Years of experience: five

Wingspan: When and why did you begin to play harp? 

Kartawijaya: “I began harp in sixth grade, without the intended purpose of getting in, just for the fun of it, because it was offered as an instrument. I didn’t really think I’d get it and I already had the violin as a backup option.”

Wingspan: What kind of music do you usually play? What has been your favorite piece? 

Kartawijaya: “Honestly I have no idea what kind of music I play, I could do anything if needed. I don’t really have any favorite solos? But anything with harp solos in orchestra pieces sounds amazing.”

Wingspan: Is there a piece that you’d like to play in the future? If so, why do you want to play it? 

Kartawijaya: “Maybe a jazzy kind of song? That’s a totally different style that I haven’t tried out yet, but I’m kind of open to it since it’s unique in the way it’s played and just the mood of it is intriguing.”

Wingspan: What’s your favorite part about being in orchestra and playing the harp? 

Kartawijaya: “My personal favorite part is the fact that there’s only a few of us, so it’s a lot easier for me to get to know and befriend my fellow harpists. I like how we have a different schedule to follow, since the music and arrangements we play don’t always match up with the orchestra.”

Wingspan: What’s the most challenging part of playing the harp?

Kartawijaya: “Definitely playing loud. Since there aren’t that many harpists and it’s inconveniently quieter than all the string instruments, so it’s harder to hear us during concerts. Also we get blisters when playing too much, so it can be kind of harsh to practice at the last minute.”

Wingspan: What are some differences between playing the harp on your own and playing in an ensemble? 

Kartawijaya: “An ensemble is more of us trying to play together, like us as a group to blend sounds in a way. For a solo, you can be more um you like? It’s more of how you feel in the moment, and I feel like people can be more carefree while playing.”

Wingspan: Is there someone who inspires you?

Kartawijaya: “My fellow harpists inspire me. They practice a lot and I feel like in such a few years, they’ve already progressed so much, so it almost acts as motivation to get better.”

Wingspan: What do you think you’ve learned from playing the harp?

Kartawijaya: “I feel like there’s a lot of things I’ve learned over the past few years. For example, how to manage time, since the harp teacher would always get on my back for not practicing enough. Also learning how to practice or keep a better mentality for competitions or performances. Harp has made me feel more comfortable performing, since we do it pretty often. Possibly even communication skills, because there’s few of us, we need to find ways to get through the events as harpists, and rely on each other, almost.”