Molly O'Roark
Artistic Director
Dr. Molly O’Roark, a native of Memphis, TN, is a dynamic performer and composer known for crafting exciting and energetic programs that showcase her love of music and the harp as well as enhancing the traditional concert experience. Currently based in Atlanta, GA, Dr. O’Roark serves as a full-time Artistic Director with the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble. In her performing career she has won various awards and competitions including: 2014 National Anne Adams Award, 2014 Artist Presentation Society Auditions, Eastman School of Music concerto competition, Wayne Barlow Award for excellence in Harp Performance. As a composer, Dr. O’Roark likes to weave melodic and sometimes theatrical narratives into her works for harps or mixed ensembles. In October 2017, she was a featured composer at Michigan Harp Day where she premiered her commissioned harp ensemble work “Apollo at the Temple of Delphi” at Michigan State University.
Dr. O’Roark is one half of the theatrical and comedic harp duo, Ginger & Spice, with Ann McLaughlin. Ginger & Spice have been featured performers at the 2016 American Harp Society National Conference in Atlanta, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and guest lecturers in the Physics Department at the University of Illinois. They are known for their choreography, arrangements, costumes, and “four-hands-one-harp” technique. She also performs with MEMO, a flute and harp duo, with award-winning flutist, Elisa Moles, specializing in engaging performances of twentieth- century works.
Dr. O’Roark received a Master’s of Music in Harp Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In the studio of Dr. Ann Yeung, she served as the harp studio teaching assistant for three years working with both the harp majors and elective lessons program. Recently, she received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. O’Roark’s undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance, Performer’s Certificate, and Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.
Dr. Jennifer Joy Betzer
Teaching Artist
Jennifer Betzer began her harp studies in 1995 under the instruction of Maia Jourde. Her love for music continued to thrive as she went on to obtain a Bachelor of Music degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. During this time she had the unique opportunity to study harp abroad in Vienna, Austria with Vienna Philharmonic Principal, Charlotte Balzereit, as well as in Sydney, Australia with Sydney Symphony Principal, Louise Johnson. These studies granted her numerous opportunities to perform abroad as a soloist, in a chamber setting, and with orchestra. Shortly after graduating she performed as a soloist with the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy, before continuing her studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she earned a Master of Music Performance degree. In addition to performing with the Conservatorium orchestra she had the privilege to perform and tour with the Sydney Sinfonia. Additional performance experience was granted through the Bowdoin International Music Festival (Maine), Hot Springs Music Festival (Arkansas), Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory (Colorado), and Long Horn Music Festival (Texas).
Jennifer Betzer earned the Doctor of Musical Arts, Harp Performance with Music Education Minor from the University of North Texas in 2020. She joined the staff of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble in August 2021. Since 2015, Jennifer taught harp in the Frisco TX Independent School District.
Roselyn Lewis
Executive Director
Roselyn Lewis is co-founder and Executive Director of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble which was founded in 2000 at Brown Middle School. She is retired as choral music teacher in Atlanta Public Schools after a stellar career spanning forty years.
As part of her duties with the UYHE, Ms. Lewis manages the Board of Directors, serves as the primary grant writer and oversees the operation of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble.
She is a graduate of Hampton University located in Hampton, Virginia with a BS in music education. She holds a MS degree in education from Cambridge College, Boston, MA. Roselyn began her teaching career in 1968 at David T. Howard High School in Atlanta. Ms. Lewis is the recipient of numerous awards associated with her teaching career. She taught elementary music for the Department of Defense Dependent School in Germany from 1973-1977. She is the founding director of the Handbell Music Ministry at Friendship Baptist Church for over 40 years. During her teaching career, Roselyn was elected twice as Elementary Division Chair of the Georgia Music Educators Association. Ms. Lewis is an active member of the American Harp Society, Handbell Musicians of America and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
In retirement, she has devoted her time, energy and passion to the success of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble.