When Naomi Gesk was 9 years old, she had no plans to become a harpist. She was simply tagging along to her mom’s music lessons when she reached out and plucked a string. That small act of curiosity sparked something deeper: a calling.
Now 17 and a senior at University High, Gesk is one of Irvine’s few high school harpists. She’s also a leader, mentor and musical ambassador, bringing harp music not only to concert halls but also to hospital rooms and community events across Orange County.
Last year, she founded the Irvine Unified School District Harp Ensemble, the first districtwide group of its kind. The idea came from a conversation with Brad Harris, the instrumental music director at Woodbridge High, who saw Gesk’s talent and encouraged her to take the lead.
“He really believed in me,” she says. “And he didn’t just support the idea – he helped make it happen. From organizing space to handling logistics, he’s one of my biggest advocates.”
She recruited harpists from across Irvine. The ensemble now includes eight students from middle and high schools. They rehearse every few weeks and have performed at community fundraisers, yoga classes, a fashion show and in the lobby of Segerstrom Concert Hall before the Donald Bren Honors Concert.
The harp, Gesk explains, is unlike most instruments. A solo instrument capable of carrying melody and harmony, it also demands coordination: harpists use both hands and both feet, adjusting pedals to change keys mid-performance.
“We use four fingers on each hand, and over time we develop rough calluses on our fingertips from all the plucking,” she says.
Despite the difficulty, the result is soft, soothing and deeply emotional. Gesk performs through UCI Health’s Music to Heal program and plays regularly at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
“There’s something about the harp that helps people relax,” she says.
Her talent was recognized on a national stage in 2023 when she won first place in the Intermediate I Division of the American Harp Society National Competition. “It just boosted my confidence in every way,” she says.
That confidence helped fuel her passion for leading others. Through the harp ensemble, Gesk now mentors beginners and helps build community. Gesk believes the harp is more than strings and pedals – it’s a bridge. A way to connect with others, to offer peace and to make people feel something.
“It’s not about being in the spotlight,” she says. “It’s about bringing music to people who need it, whether it’s in a hospital room or a concert hall.”
