Ms. Riza Hequibal
     Orchestra •JH Choir •Village Music

Ms. Riza Hequibal has always had a love for music and its various means of interpretation. Before arriving to GACS, she performed extensively as a soloist as well as in an array of ensembles across the country for over eighteen years.  She also has composed and arranged a wide range of pieces for harp and for piano.

A native of southern California, Ms. Hequibal grew up attending a private Christian school.  It was there where she was exposed to the many facets of music.  She traveled internationally and as a part of the school Wind Ensemble, High School Chorus & Madrigals, performed at venues such as the World Expo in Brisbane, Australia, The World Harp Congress in Paris, France as well as an array of overseas mission efforts.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities at GACS, she maintains a private teaching studio where she conducts harp and piano lessons and continues to freelance throughout the Atlanta area.

Ms. Hequibal pursued her undergraduate studies (from 1990 - 1993 in both Classical and Jazz disciplines) at the Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington, IN under the instruction of Distinguished Professor of Harp - Susan McDonald and equally renowned Professor of Jazz - David Baker. She has also studied with ground breaking jazz harpist, Deborah Henson-Conant. In 1994, Ms. Hequibal received her Bachelors of Music from Columbia College, Chicago, IL where she continued her studies in jazz. She is currently completing her Master of Music from Georgia State University's School of Music under the instruction of Elisabeth Remy, Principal Harpist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Regardless of whether her students pursue music post-GACS, her objective as a music teacher is to not only expose her students to the broad range of musical genres, but to provide the instruction and resources necessary to building a solid musical foundation. 

"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God:

first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."
Hudson Taylor