Kittay House Happenings

August 2009

A Taste of Tanglewood Comes to the Bronx

Cultural Programs at Kittay House continue to be par excellence. On Friday, June 26, tenants were mesmerized by a unique harp concert performed by a very talented 14-year-old! En route to her summer study at Tanglewood, Hannah Young, the cousin of Kittay tenant Jerry Siskin, made a stop at Kittay’s Fox Auditorium. This accomplished young lady presented a classical program that included works by composers Dussek, Handel and Salzedo.

Hannah demonstrated different techniques specific to harps such as glissandos, arpeggios and the use of foot pedals. After her performance and fielding questions about her instrument and studies, she stayed to provide beautiful accompaniment to the Shabbat candle lighting service. Kittay tenant Zelda Fassler remarked, "The harp is truly the instrument of angels, and Hannah’s playing was absolutely celestial."

Hannah Young is a harpist with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Next year she will be the principal harpist of the Elgin Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been taking private lesson for eight years. This summer she will attend the Boston University Tanglewood Institute where she will study with Ann Hobson Pilot, principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She has given solo performances for many charities and is a member of the Honors Symphonic Orchestra at Downers Grove North High School.