Ramona (Sakalauskaite)

Ramona was born in St Petersburg Russia, the City of the great Russian Composers.

From age 3 Ramona was trained as a Concert Harpist.

From age 7 Ramona attended the St.Petersburg School of Music full time for eleven years, including 3 years personal tuition by Russia’s greatest harpist Tatiana Tauer.

From age 18 Ramona attended St.Petersburg Conservatory full time for five years - including 5 years personal tuition by the late Tatiana Tauer - graduating in 1992 with a Masters Degree in Music & Teaching. 

Ramona first worked with the Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra Vilnius for three years, with the Mariinsky Theatre St. Petersburg for one year and with the Mussorsky-Michaelovsky Theatre St. Petersburg for fifteen years until 2010,  all as Concert Harpist, with over 4,200 Opera, Ballet and Solo performances in Symphony and Chamber Concerts.

Ramona also gave regular Ballet and Solo performances in St. Petersburg;

• Hermitage Theatre;
• Usopovsky Theatre;
• Grand Hotel Europa as solo Concert Harpist for ten years; 
• Peterhof Palace;
• Catherine Palace;
• Russian Museum;
• TV & Radio and
• Solo for Presidents and visiting Heads of State to Russia.

Ramona gave many Schools introductions to Classical Music, and also regular Hospital & Children’s Schools Music Therapy sessions.

Since coming to live in Ireland in 2009 Ramona plays in;

• Sligo Hospice, weekly
• St.John’s Hospital, Sligo
• Summerville Nursing Home, Strandhill, Sligo
• Nazareth Nursing Home, Sligo
• Weddings, Special Occasions, Openings & Romantic Evenings, Cathedrals, Churches, Hotels, Halls, Theatres & The Model Sligo
• Carrick-on-Shannon Water Music Festival
• Solo Recitals & Concerts
• Functions & Events in various venues
• Performs with Sligo Baroque Orchestra and Sligo Orpheous Choir
• St. Patrick's Church, Strandhill: Sunday Mass

Lessons

Ramona teaches adults and children on both the Concert Harp and the Celtic Harp, teaches the Celtic Harp privately, and also weekly for Music Generation Sligo with tuition weekly in the Coleman Centre, Gurteen.

Performances

Ramona's Performances include Vilnius / St.Petersburg / Moscow / Russia with the above Theatres and employers, worldwide tours & European tours with the great cellist Rostropovich and including tours and solo performances in Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, France, Holland, England & annually over 8 years in Japan.

Ramona has also played solo for TRH the Prince of Wales & the Duchess of Cornwall at St Columba’s Church Drumcliffe, Co Sligo, 20 May 2015.

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Ramona's Repertoire

Ramona's very extensive repertoire and arrangements for all occasions of famous classical and concert music, famous worldwide popular music and famous Irish music, including the music of the great O’Carolan.

Ramona also specialises in Harp Music Therapy - scientifically proven to relieve stress, release emotional pain, build self-esteem, re-balance mind, body and emotions - with her unique style that touches the listener.