Way to go: Sophia Greco, Massapequa

As her classmates played violins and other instruments at Charles E. Schwarting Elementary School's winter concert, Sophia Greco's fingers danced across the strings of something a bit more uncommon: a harp.

The fourth-grader at the North Massapequa school began playing the instrument last summer and since then has taken weekly private lessons. She performed on the harp at the fourth-grade orchestra's winter concert on Jan. 23.

In response to Sophia's interest, school officials recently ordered a harp for her to use while at school. It is expected to arrive this month, she said.

"I love the way it sounds," said Sophia, 9. Of the instrument's difficulty, she said: "Once you figure out where the notes are, it's pretty easy."

She decided to learn to play because of her interest in classical music and her family's love of the soundtrack of "The Phantom of the Opera." She is planning to play the harp next month at an evaluation festival of the New York State School Music Association.

A Girl Scout, Sophia is a member of her school's Student Council and is on the Farmingdale Aquatics swim team.