Alaina Bongers is a native of Colorado and can be found most weekends driving up and down the Front Range to performances and harp functions.  Her love for music began at an early age.  She studied piano for several years before switching to the harp. Alaina received both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Harp Performance from Colorado State University under Rachel Starr Ellins.  She also holds a certificate in Liturgical Studies which she earned studying with Dr. Joel Bacon, organ professor at Colorado State University. 

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Alaina is the harpist for the Fort Collins Wind Symphony and has played with many other ensembles including Longmont Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Symphony, Boulder Concert Band, Arapahoe Philharmonic, Ladaumus Chorale, Loveland Chorale, Larimer Chorale, Alpine Chorale, and the Schola Cantorum.   In addition to ensemble work, Alaina has a passion for musical theater and has worked on productions with the Fort Collins Children’s Theater, Up in Lights, Midtown Arts Center, Tabor Opera House, and Opera Steamboat.

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In the summer of 2011, Alaina established the Magnolia Music Studio Harp Camp for children.  Since the inaugural year with only two young harpists, the camp has steadily grown into the formation of the Northern Colorado Summer Harp Festival.  The festival now consists of three different levels of harp ensembles with up to twenty harpists participating nationwide.  Alaina is the artistic director and she enjoys creating special harp ensemble arrangements for the festival.  

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When not performing, Alaina serves as treasurer on the board of Mile High Chapter of the American Harp Society.  With over fifteen years of teaching experience, Alaina currently teaches aspiring harpists of all ages at her studio in Loveland.  Additionally, she collaborates with local middle and high school music directors by adapting or arranging parts for the student harpists to be included in their beginning level orchestras.