Helen Gerhold, harp
Peter Lockman, cello
October 17, 2025, 7:00 PM
A suggested donation of $25 is used to fund this concert series and to allow for future concerts.
This series exists only because of the generosity of your donations.
Helen Liu Gerhold has be described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as an “exceptionally fine” player, is a seasoned international solo, chamber, and orchestral artist. She has soloed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Stars of Tomorrow Concert at the USA International Harp Competition, and the World Harp Congress. She has been a featured soloist at the Lyon & Healy Summer Concert Series, the Philadelphia International Harp Music Festival, on National Public Radio’s From the Top, with the Berkshire Symphony, Lower Merion Symphony Orchestra, and Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra. Among her accolades are the U.S. International Lyon & Healy Awards, top prizes in nearly all divisions of the American Harp Society’s National Competition, and the American Harp Society Foundation Award. She has given both masterclasses and recitals for the Philadelphia and Baltimore Chapters of the American Harp Society.
As an orchestral harpist, Helen has been playing as First and Second Harp substitute with The Philadelphia Orchestra regularly since age 17. She also performs with the Metropolitan (MET) Opera Orchestra on international tours, in the opera pit, and at Carnegie Hall. She has also performed in the Minnesota Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
A lover of new music and chamber performances, she has performed in chamber ensembles and premiered new works at Tanglewood Music Center, and with the Network for New Music, Curtis Institute of Music’s 20/21 New Music Ensemble, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and more. Helen was a Tanglewood Music Center Harp Fellow.
In 2001, Gerhold received a harp from her aunt, harpist Yi Liu, and her first lesson with Miss Lucile Lawrence as her youngest last student. Gerhold continued her harp training with Ms. Lawrence, Virginia Flanagan, Dewey Owens, Judy Loman, and as Principal Harp for five seasons of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. Helen received her bachelors from the Curtis Institute of Music as the Marilyn Costello Fellow, studying under Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harp of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Helen serves as Guest Faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music and is Executive Director of harp education nonprofit, the Lyra Society. She also received a career merit scholarship for her work with Lyra to complete her Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) at the Villanova School of Business.
Peter Lockman has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Korea appearing at Carnegie Hall, the White House, and the Wiener and Graz Musikvereins. He earned his Bachelor of Music at DePauw University studying with Eric Edberg and Master of Music at Indiana University studying with Eric Kim. He acted as principal cellist at both universities, was a finalist in the DePauw Concerto Competition for three consecutive years, and soloed with IU’s Philharmonic Orchestra as winner of the Jacobs School of Music Cello Competition. In 2014, Peter formed the Esherick Trio with fellow musicians Keoni Bolding and Seth Trumbore focusing on producing audience-centric experiences emphasizing diversity in programming, audience-performer connection and education.