Harp concert benefits Symphony

Revel in classical harp music and give the Carson City Symphony a boost at the same time when harpist Marina Roznitovsky performs at the Bliss Mansion this weekend.

The Ukrainian-born harpist, who now teaches at the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College and is the principal harpist for the Reno Chamber Orchestra and the Nevada Opera, is playing a benefit concert for the symphony at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the historic home on Carson City's west side.

The repertoire includes Baroque music by Alessandro Scarlatti, music written for the harp by 18th century French harpist Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz as well as his 20th century compatriot Carlos Salzedo, and pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Marie Auguste Durand.

Roznitovsky, who grew up in Israel after emigrating there with her mother when she was 6 years old, earned several music degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. She moved to Reno two years ago after a brief visit here.

"I loved the area and the weather and, luckily, there has been enough work," said Roznitovsky.

In addition to her work at UNR and with the chamber orchestra and the opera, the harpist has been performing benefit and free concerts throughout the area. She has recently played at two retirement communities in Reno and this week was scheduled to perform at a correctional facility in Susanville. The day after the Bliss Mansion concert she is set to perform in St. Patrick's Church in Incline Village to benefit the church.

Roznitovsky says the free concerts benefit her, too. She has been preparing for nearly two years to compete next month in the International Harp Contest in Israel.

The grueling, two-week competition requires each harpist to be prepared to perform four, 40-minute sets.

"It's like preparing for three concerts," said Roznitovsky. "It's taken over my life recently. It's why I do so many concerts. I hope it benefits me."

And, said Roznitovsky, she hopes her practicing and preparing for her competition as she performs before live audiences helps others, such as the Carson City Symphony, as well.

Tickets for the event are $25 for adults, $15 for symphony association members and $5 for children under 12, and are available at Play Your Own Music in the Carson Mall or online at tahoe.activitytickets.com/

activity/ concerts/1024.