Meet Mana Tinkerhess of Koreatown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mana Tinkerhess.

Hi Mana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Iran and first started learning the piano around the time I was eight. My family decided to move to the US when I was eleven and we settled in mesa, Arizona. The orchestra at the middle school I attended needed a pianist and with the encouragement of my mom, I auditioned to play piano with them. After joining the orchestra I learned about the joy of playing music with other musicians for the first time. It was around then that I knew I wanted to be a professional in this field and help inspire others pursue their musical journey. A few years later, I had the opportunity to study the harp at my high school. I instantly fell in love with the harp the moment I played it and spent many hours everyday practicing. Four years later, I studied the harp as my major at the University of Illinois and then found my way to Los Angeles for Graduate school at the University of Southern California. It was there that I started learning the Baroque triple harp, a unique historical harp that features three rows of strings. After graduating I decided to stay in Los Angeles to teach harp and piano lessons and freelance. I often play with my husband who is a cellist and we perform together as Duo Remanence.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was very fortunate to have a family that supported my ambitions. But even with their help, I could not afford to have my own harp for years. While I was in high school, I would have to use my breaks to get extra practice times and during the summer, I usually had to drive to play on my teacher’s harp.
Another obstacle as a performer is dealing with the anxiety of being on stage. I struggled a lot with that while I was a student. However, as I gradually started to find my own style of playing and accepting that it does not have to be perfect, I became more comfortable with sharing my work with an audience.
As a teacher and performer, one of the biggest challenges for me has been finding a connection with my community. I am hoping to find more ways to reach out to those who are interested in getting lessons or live music for their events.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I teach harp and piano to students at all levels and ages in my studio in Korea town. I enjoy helping others find their passion for music by encouraging them to learn the songs that they strongly connect with and love. For those who enjoy early music, they can study the baroque harp with me or have me play for their events.
My husband and I are one of the few musicians in town who play modern/pop music on rare historical instruments (triple harp, Viola da gamba and harpsichord) which makes them more accessible for a broader audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://manatinkerhess.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manasharplog
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@manaazimi5643