![LISTENING AND LEARNING — Freshmen Darwin Collins and Kevin Pei listen as members of the ensemble perform. “It [Harmony Ensemble] is more light-hearted and fun than anything,” Collins said.](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/music3-1200x800.jpg)
On a quiet monday evening, members of the Harmony Ensemble gather in Palo Alto High School’s small choir room. Four members stand up in the center of the room to perform a short excerpt from a piece they have been working on. A delicate melody emerges as the sound of the violin blends with the breathy notes of the clarinet, and a cello hums a rich, deep tone in the background. The rest of the group sits in chairs surrounding the performers, intently listening as music fills the room.
Founded in the spring of 2023 by four Paly sophomores Kate Vo, Tiffany Chow, Lumi Lee and Asher Wong, Harmony Ensemble has grown to a thriving group encompassing both middle and high school members. The organization is a student-led non-profit dedicated to chamber music, providing students with the opportunity to play with each other in smaller groups.
According to Harmony Ensemble founder and Paly sophomore Lumi Lee, the group was founded as a way to share their love for classical music.
“Classical music, we felt as though it deserved to be appreciated more,” she said. “So we decided to do something about it, and created a group, Harmony Ensemble.”
Harmony Ensemble has a strong focus on chamber music instead of large orchestral performances. With just over 30 members, the ensemble is able to maintain its tight-knit community. Additionally, it is tuition-free for all of its students to participate in.
“Our group is tuition free and also allows students to connect with their peers more closely in smaller groups,” Lee said.
Paly sophomore Kate Vo, another founder of Harmony, said the biggest challenge for members is communication.
“We’ve definitely learned the importance of open-mindedness to each other and the importance of listening to each other,” Vo said. “We’ve definitely learned how to communicate a lot more effectively and a lot more efficiently.”
A core part of what makes Harmony so enjoyable for its members is the fact that they input ideas and suggestions into what they play at their rehearsals and concerts.
“We choose the music based on what our members like, what we [the founders] like, what the audience likes, basically what music that anyone likes,” Vo said. “We decided to explore a bunch of different styles, from the latest like the baroque eras to closer to contemporary music.”
One event that unanimously generates excitement throughout the ensemble is the annual Artist Concert. The upcoming concert, scheduled for April 18, will showcase works by a diverse range of composers.
The program will include pieces by composers Hisaishi, Piazzolla and Saint-Saëns.
Additionally, the concert will include works written by guest composers and high school students Jesse Spain and Kavita Karmarkar.
“[At] our artist concert, we have musicians that have a variety of skill sets,” Lee said. “And so we decided the ones who have a lot more experience than others might have their own concert, and we would have an annual artist concert at the Palo Alto Arts Center.”
For many members, Harmony Ensemble doesn’t just present an opportunity to play music — it offers a community.
Paly freshman Darwin Collins joined the ensemble after hearing about it from his friends.
“They [rehearsals] are genuinely very fun, and you’re really not forced to do much work,” he said. “You get up, you play something, and then get feedback … it’s more light-hearted and fun than anything.”
As Harmony Ensemble continues to gain more members, the founders have ambitious plans for the future.
“My future plan is that we expand throughout the Bay Area, and throughout the state, and maybe even throughout the whole country,” Vo said. “Maybe we’ll go international, that’ll be really amazing.”
Overall, Harmony Ensemble has become a place to play music and build community. “My favorite part of Harmony is basically the entire thing itself,” Vo said. “The whole experience is just amazing.”
