Sophomore Sasha Kiryakin has achieved a level of musical excellence that most people dream of. From the various instruments she plays to managing her time with music, school, and sports, Kiryakin has dedicated her time and commitment to accomplishing her goals.
Among the instruments Kiryakin plays, the harp has stood out the most. Kiryakin started playing the harp when she was young after witnessing a family friend play at the San Francisco Opera.
“My family and I have a family friend who is a renowned harpist, a worldwide competition winner, and the former performer principal harpist of the San Francisco Opera, Olga Rakitchenkov,” Kiryakin said. “I saw her playing, and my mom introduced me to her, and she forever inspired me. She started giving me free lessons, and from the first time I ever played I absolutely loved it.”
Kiryakin joined the Marin Music Chest in 2019, which is a non-profit organization that sponsors young musicians to encourage them to keep playing their instrument and promote a greater appreciation for classical music. Since then, Kiryakin has participated in a competition the Marin Music Chest hosts annually for a scholarship that goes towards musical education. She has won the award for five consecutive years.
“Every year, there is a competition in which there are ten or so winners. Those winners get a check, and five of them go on to an extra gig called Young Artists with an extra cash prize. This all goes to musical education,” Kiryakin said.
Along with the Marin Music Chest scholarship, Kiryakin has won the Robert Greenwood Award, given for exceptional performance, and the Young Artists Award. Kiryakin is also the principal harpist of the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) in Berkeley.
“I joined [YPSO] one and a half years ago, and I performed with them for their spring concert,” Kiryakin said. “Then this summer we went on an international Japan tour, which was really amazing.”
In addition to playing the harp and participating in YPSO, Kiryakin is also part of the STEM Biotech program and runs cross country. With many extracurricular activities, Kiryakin has had to learn how to manage her time effectively.
“I’ve had to learn how to plan out my days and how to not waste time when I get home,” Kiryakin said. “A lot of times, I’ll find myself doing homework at orchestra, or at any kind of rehearsal. Generally, it’s an experience that’s extremely fulfilling, and it helps me become more organized.”
Kiryakin will always have a love for the harp no matter the career she chooses.
“I think that whether I play it professionally or not it will always remain in my life; even if it is a hobby, I will be extremely happy to play harp for as long as I can,” Kiryakin said.
