Teacher Directory

Russian Harpist, Elena Mashkovtseva is known for her impeccable technique, grace, and elegance. She is a soloist, chamber musician, and dedicated teacher. Ms. Mashkovtseva is a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she studied with the celebrated harpist Vera Dulova. 

 Ms. Mashkovtseva has appeared with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Nova, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, and the Hutchins Consort.  As a chamber musician, she appears regularly with Camarada and DUO ELENA with flutist Elena Yarritu. Ms. Mashkovtseva is Professor of Harp at San Diego State University and has her own private studio in San Diego. 

Her students have won many local and national competitions, and have gone on to study at major colleges/conservatories here in the U.S. and abroad. 

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Julie Smith Phillips is the Principal Harpist of the San Diego Symphony, a position she's held since 2007.  Silver medalist in the 2004 USA International Harp Competition and Bronze medalist in 2001, Ms. Phillips is an active chamber musician, soloist & teacher. Founder of The Myriad Trio (fl, vla, hp), she regularly performs as guest artist on concert series programs in the San Diego area and across the country.  Previously acting Principal Harpist of the Milwaukee Symphony and Principal Harpist of the New World Symphony, she led the harp program at Arizona State University from 2013-2017. 

Ms. Phillips is on faculty at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, runs the Nebraska Harp Workshop and maintains a studio of private students from her home in North County San Diego. She received her BM & MM degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Yolanda Kondonassis.  She has served on the board of the San Diego Harp Society since 2009 and is currently Co-President. 

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 Tasha Smith Godinez is a performer, composer and music teacher based in San Diego, California. Ms. Smith Godinez is passionate about augmenting the repertoire for her instrument and has dedicated much of her career to commissioning, performing, and recording new music for the harp. It is also a goal of Tasha’s to help change the common assumptions of the harp and its musical capabilities. Tasha holds both a BM and MM in music performance from San Diego State University as well as a performance diploma from the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, Alfred Cortot in Paris, France. 

Ms. Smith Godinez is the harp professor at the University of San Diego and Palomar College as well as director of the San Diego Harp Academy.  She also is the owner of Ennanga Records & Publishing whose focus is directed to publishing new pieces for the harp and recordings of music by living composers and improvisational styles. Tasha is a former president of the San Diego Harp Society. 

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Pam began her musical education with piano lessons at the age of 6, clarinet at 8 and then moved on to the harp at the age of 11. Her passion led her to study at San Francisco State University. 

Pam has performed in musicals, churches and many weddings and events. Playing with the La Jolla Symphony and the Inland Valley Symphony, Pam also lived in Scotland for several years where she studied Celtic music. 

Pam is an accomplished private teacher, having taught classroom music preK-6th grade for several years. Pam currently plays banquets, weddings, and live worship music in a contemporary setting. This interest has led her to studio recording and as of date, she has played on 4 instrumental albums of classic Hymns and other contemporary projects.

She loves inspiring and equipping students as they discover their own musical talents. Pam teaches in Clairmont and La Jolla.

Sophie Camden is a San Diego-based harpist and teacher. A classically-trained harpist, Sophie won four solo competitions in 18 months from 2013-2014, which led to performances in Hong Kong, Washington D.C., and at the American Harp Society’s 51st National Conference in New Orleans.

Sophie enjoys performing with other musicians and has played with the La Jolla Symphony Orchestra for five seasons, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and various local community orchestras across San Diego.

She particularly enjoys playing in the pit orchestra for musicals. Favorites include the Pittsburgh stop of the national tour of the Tony-award winning production of The King and I as well as The Light In The Piazza and Sunday In The Park With George, both with CCAE Theatricals. The San Diego Union-Tribune called out Sophie by name in its review of Sunday, calling her performance “of note.”

As a teacher, Sophie enjoys teaching students of all ages. She strives to be a kind but demanding teacher, balancing the cultivation of discipline with fun along the way. She teaches from her home studio in 4S Ranch.

Website / Lessons

  Harpist Naomi Alter received her Bachelor of Music degree in harp at Oberlin Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Alice Chalifoux. She has studied with Jeanne Chalifoux at the Salzedo Harp Colony in Maine, and at Tanglewood Music Festival with Lucile Lawrence.

She has taught harp at Louisiana State University and performed with the Toledo, Baton Rouge, La Jolla, Palomar and Grossmont Symphonies. She has been a concerto soloist recently with the Poway Symphony Orchestra, the Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra and the Crown City Symphony in Pasadena.
Since 1987, Naomi has performed at many weddings and special events and teaching in the San Diego area.