Name: Cueca by Ector County ISD Harp Program
Duration: 1 min 36 s
Description: The Odessa High School Advanced Harp Ensemble performing Cueca, a traditional Bolivian dance arranged by Yvon Rivoal and Catherine Garson, at the Irons Music Festival in Lubbock, Texas on 4/29/16

The Odessa High School Advanced Harp Ensemble performing Cueca, a traditional Bolivian dance arranged by Yvon Rivoal and Catherine Garson, at the Irons Music Festival in Lubbock, Texas on 4/29/16

Cueca

The ECISD harp program was established in 1997 by Nelson Allison, retired Gonzales Elementary principal, Reba McHaney, ECISD harp instructor, and Charles Nail, fine arts director. The program was the vision of Nelson Allison, and took many years to come to fruition. As a dedicated educator, Nelson felt that harp should be available to students in Odessa. He began teaching students individually while a principal at Gonzales Elementary. In 1997, Nelson succeeded in creating a harp program that was included in the district fine arts curriculum as a co-curricular activity, allowing students to take harp class in the public schools and receive fine arts credit. As a component of the fine arts curriculum, it also employs a full-time, K-12 certified instructor. Students in the ECISD harp program have performed at the White House and the Kennedy Center, as well as in Dallas, New Orleans, Austin, and Hawaii. The program reaches many low-income students, providing an opportunity for them to play an instrument they otherwise couldn’t afford. Many of the ECISD harp students are also very academically strong, and frequently pursue higher education.