Strings Of Hope
Spreadsheets and Starlight - balancing art and everyday life with Erika Lieberman
From Harpo's Harp to the Galilee: Adina Haroz on Walking Three Years to Her Dream
by Simcha Tzuf
In this episode of Strings of Hope, I sit down with Erika Lieberman — known as Erika the Harpist — a Renaissance fair performer, international teacher, and folk harpist from New York. Erika discovered the harp at age 25 at a California Renaissance festival and never looked back. We talk about what it's like to perform at Renaissance fairs, how she balances a full-time paralegal career with a thriving harp performance schedule, recording her CD A Fine Fair Day at home, and what the Somerset Folk Harp Festival means to the folk harp world. Erika opens up about the imposter syndrome she felt the first time she was invited to teach at Somerset — and how pushing through it changed everything. We also hear two beautiful pieces: Child Grove (John Playford, 1651) and Isle of Aegis, a traditional Scottish air. This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered whether they're "good enough" — as a musician, a teacher, or just someone trying to follow a dream. 🎵 Music featured: Child Grove — John Playford, 1651 Isle of Aegis — traditional Scottish air Performed by Erika Lieberman 🌐 Links: ErikaTheHarpist.com SomersetHarpFest.com 📀 Erika’s CD: A Fine Fair Day — available in her shop 📱 Follow Erika: Facebook: https://facebook.com/celticharplady Instagram: @celticharplady 🎻 Follow Strings of Hope: https://stringsofhope.com
What would you do if you wanted to learn harp — but there was only one teacher in your entire country, and she told you you were too old? This week on the Strings of Hope Podcast, I’m sharing my conversation with Adina Haroz — one of Israel’s celebrated harpists, and my very first harp teacher. Adina grew up in Israel at a time when you could count all the harpists in the country on two hands. After losing her father in war, music became her family’s way of keeping his memory alive. When she chose the harp, there were two problems: no teacher would take her — and there wasn’t even a harp to play. Then something extraordinary happened. Harpo Marx’s wife donated one of Harpo’s harps to a museum in Israel. For three years, Adina walked every day to that museum — rain or shine, every day except Shabbat — to practice on Harpo’s harp. It was a long walk, but still walkable. And she did it. Every single day. What happened next changed the course of harp in Israel. In this conversation, we talk about: Following one’s passion and turning dreams into reality Learning through mistakes — and finding beauty in them Balancing motherhood and family with life as a professional musician Teaching students of all religions in the Galilee Why she’s learning Arabic at this stage of her career What keeps her passionate about teaching after all these years Leaving room for “what if…” and improvisation in life This is a story about dedication. About refusing to let “no” be the final answer. And about how one person’s persistence can open doors for an entire generation. 🎧 ADINA’S MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7iYrh7z7NSyZnUtcn6MSWQ 🎙️ ABOUT THE STRINGS OF HOPE PODCAST Conversations with harpists, harp builders, and music artists from around the world — exploring their life stories, challenges, and what helped them keep going when the path wasn’t clear. ❤️ SUPPORT THE PODCAST Leave a review, share the episode, or buy me a tea ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/stringsofhope 📬 CONNECT Instagram: https://instagram.com/stringsofhope Newsletter: https://strings-of-hope.kit.com/33ad9fc1d4 🎓 STRINGS OF HOPE MEMBERSHIP Launching January 2026 — join the waitlist: https://strings-of-hope.kit.com/6f57b3b825 A note from me: Adina was my first harp teacher. Hearing her full story reminded me that the people who guide us often carry journeys we never fully knew. Three years. Every day. Walking to play someone else’s harp in a museum. That kind of dedication changes lives. Till next time — stay tuned 🎶 Simcha
In this first episode of the Strings of Hope podcast, I’m excited to share a heartfelt conversation with the harpist who first inspired my own harping journey—Sunita Staneslow. Sunita’s Songs on the Psalms was the very first music I discovered when I began learning the harp, and her unique style—marked by simplicity, depth, and grace—continues to influence my compositions and approach today.We explore her rich musical path, from classical training at the Manhattan School of Music, to learning how to improvise, to busking around the world with her harp and husband. Sunita opens up about her process of improvisation, embracing musical simplicity, and teaching in a way that helps harpists connect with their own inner voice. She has published numerous harp books, recorded beautiful solo and collaborative albums, and teaches at workshops and retreats around the world—inviting students into a deeper, more intuitive relationship with their music. Whether you're a harpist, improviser, or lover of creative journeys, this episode is full of stories, wisdom, and inspiration. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more harp-centered conversations and soulful musical stories.— 🔗 Learn more about Sunita Staneslow 🌍 Website & Harp Retreats: https://hamars.uk/ 🎶 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gxL0sTJWeGNrOJwgN3I0m?si=oRB17RVnRaaR0CTOsUuU7w— 💌 Join the Strings of Hope newsletter Get free harp resources, podcast updates, and creative inspiration: https://bit.ly/StringsOfHope-SignUP