When the musicians from the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory Music School gather together for a concert, they aren’t usually playing backup to a small nine-year-old girl. However, an exception was made for young harpist Alisa Sadikova. Her fellow musicians had endeared expressions on their faces as she made her way to sit sweetly at her harp, clearly thinking how adorable she looked. Those expressions soon turned to astonishment when she began to play.
Music Man readers will not be able to believe their ears when they hear what this young girl is capable of. Alisa played a rendition of Albert Zabel’s ‘La Source for Harp, Op. 23’ that was so perfect and precise, it had the much older and more experienced musicians surrounding her staring in amazement. Online viewers were stunned by how someone so young could play so well, one leaving a comment sharing, “Meanwhile, when I was her age, I would eat leaves from trees and pretend I was a giraffe.”
While her playing was undoubtedly fluid, polished, and professional, what impressed me most about her performance was the expressiveness with which she played. She seemed entirely immersed in the music and connected to her instrument. Being an accomplished harpist is impressive enough, especially at such a young age, but it blew me away to see how she made her playing look completely unrehearsed, as though it came straight from the heart in that moment.
Since then, Alisa has grown up, but she has never given up the harp. Now 22 years old, Alisa has competed in some of the world’s most prestigious competitions and performed in iconic venues all over the globe. For Music Man fans who want to see how her skills have developed, Alisa’s YouTube channel has videos of her playing as recently as 2024. Her latest, a performance of a piece by François Adrien Boieldieu, shows that her playing has never lost its powerful expressive touch.
Seeing any musician who has mastered their instrument is impressive, but seeing someone so young with such talent is truly mind-blowing. While Alisa is now competing among adult musicians, many will not forget the young girl who gave unforgettable performances that audiences could scarcely believe. With her expressive, passionate playing, she has continued to bring what truly touched audiences’ hearts into her playing today, ensuring that music lovers across the world will continue to flock to hear her play for a long time to come.
Alisa Sadikova is undeniably a prodigy whose expressive, effortless playing left seasoned conservatory musicians speechless. Her performance reveals a rare maturity and musicality beyond her years. To discover more from this remarkable young harpist and watch her stunning rendition, see the useful links below.