Helen Rifas

Adjunct faculty

Harp

Helen Rifas began playing the harp at age 12, with the encouragement of her school orchestra director. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Reed College and a master’s degree in harp from the University of Oregon School of Music, where she was a recipient of the Ruth Lorraine Close Musical Fellowship.

Helen enjoys all types of collaborative playing, performing in orchestras and chamber ensembles and accompanying soloists and choirs. She is currently principal harpist with the Winston-Salem and Greensboro symphonies, as well as symphonies in Salisbury, Hickory and Greenville, South Carolina. She has performed with the Hickory Choral Society, Piedmont Chamber Singers, Cabarrus Women’s Chorale, Piedmont Opera, Greensboro Opera and Roanoke Opera. She has performed chamber music on the Greenville Symphony “Spotlight Series” and has been featured as soloist in the Greenville Symphony Chamber Orchestra.

A long time member of the Piedmont Chamber Trio (flute, harp and cello), Helen is also a frequent guest with the Blue Ridge Harp Ensemble and a founding member of the Wake Forest Consort which has presented many early music concerts across North Carolina.

Helen Rifas