Virtual Festivals!

[AnnJeannette Mead]

The Somerset Harp Festival is virtual this year for 2021, which I have mixed feelings about. I’ve heard this is a really great harp festival, but never been. Thinking about signing up! Good that it’s accessible and now people would have longer virtual access, flexible timeframes to access workshops and much cheaper than doing an in-person festival. But there can’t really be a true collaborative group playing experience or successful harp tasting virtually in my opinion? It’s not the same opportunities, like if in-person, one could try out different harps they never previously would have access to at a festival like this. Here’s a link to their website:

https://www.somersetharpfest.com/index.shtml

[Libby Hitchcock]

Thank you for sharing the link @annette.mead !

<font face=”inherit”>I completely agree with you on the mixed feelings on the virtual events. I am thrilled to gain the exposure via the online portion, but like you, really want to make it to Somerset and get the full experience. I have tried to convince myself this means one more year to </font>practice<font face=”inherit”> and save and keep my fingers crossed for next year.</font>

[Mary Frank]

Well, the Edinburgh Harp Festival looks promising. I signed up for two classes. I never attended it before so I’m glad I can attend from the US via Zoom. It seems reasonably priced as well.

[Lydia La]

I did take part at both virtual festivals last year: the Virtual Edinburgh Harp Festival, wich was for free because it was then the first virtual Harp Festival and the Somerset Harp Festival.

I liked them both a lot – before I did not attend such international festivals live because I never had enough money. If someone attended these festivals in real life, it might seem that the virtual festival is not so good – but it is a chance for many people, because it is not too expensive and you can easily access from all over the world if you have stable internet.

Only from these virtual festivals I got to know lots of different harp teacher from all over the world and could choose them for more workshops or private lessons.

You can’t really pay together because of the time delay – but the advantages are: because all expect the teacher are muted you can play while the teacher talks or you can sing along – nobody will hear you. And in Somerset you pay one price for all workshops and can attend the recordings of the courses you didn’t attend live at a later time. So theoretically you could attend all 100 workshops. This doesn’t work with EIHF, because they don’t record the lessons – insofar compared to Somerset the EIHF is far more expensive.

For many musicians these virtual festivals are live-saving – some kind of income and the chance to get more private students, sell music and more at the moment. Not many of them have gone virtual before like Christy-Lyn.

[Johanna Zuehls]

I don’t know where you are located, but I found a harp retreat in Wisconsin that I will hopefully be able to attend! It’s over a weekend with a lot of different technique classes and harp circles. It’s at the end of July so I am hoping it is safe to go! Harp Column had a listing of such gatherings. I signed up for their e-mail newsletter. Lot’s of great info!!!

[Libby Hitchcock]

Oh! I am in Ct but my Dad lives in WI, great excuse to go visit, hahaha. I saw some posted on Harp Column, I will have to check it out again!

[Johanna Zuehls]

Hi!!!! I’m so sorry!!! The event is harps in the Glen. It is headed by sunita and Kim Robertson in west bend, wi. It is limited to 20-25 harpists. The tuition is $320 and it is about $350 Ford room and board. The schedule looks amazing and I am so excited!!!!!! If you end up going, let me know! It wills be fun to “know” someone there!!!!

[Mary Frank]

Hello harpers, what’s the name of the Harp Festival in Wisconsin?

[Johanna Zuehls]

Harps in the glen! It’s in west bend Wisconsin. I think the price is reasonable and up get to spend the entire weekend learning technique from sunita and Kim Robertson!!!!

[Libby Hitchcock]

Oh!!! As a beginner this is probably a bit over my head still, but if they do it again next year I can see myself scheduling my visit to Lake Geneva around this!

[Johanna Zuehls]

I’m hoping I am up for it!!!! I’m practicing harder so I can get something out of it…but even just being around the better players, I am hoping I will absorb something fabulous!!!

Last weekend, I signed up for an Ailie Robertson “workshop” and thought it was fantastic!! There was one for “Dance Tune Dexterity” which is really just scale exercises but she takes you through it step by step and this past weekend it was “Stunning Slow Aires”. I think these workshops were in lieu of other festivals. I am so glad I got in. She is allowing them for purchase on her website. I’ve also joined her Patron page. What you get for $5 a month is unbelievable!!!

[Libby Hitchcock]

@johanna.zuehls do you happen to have the name of the event in Wi?

[Bernadette Thomann]

Thanks for sharing and remembering me to new possibilities. I have just purchased an Early Concert Pass for the Edinburgh International Harp Festival. Two years ago we visited a harp festival in France (Bretagne) in Dinan. Harp players everywhere in the historical city created a magic atmosphere. They are dreaming of a realization for this summer and have created a wonderful picture to announce it:

[Libby Hitchcock]

What a beautiful poster! And it sounds as though this was a wonderful event!

[Carolyn Kranenburg]

There’s also a 5-day virtual harp workshop in Canada for harpers and cellists. I’ve been a part of this workshop (in person) in previous years and have been taught by Kim Robertson, Sunita Stanislow, Sharlene Wallace and other professional harpists. http://support-imarts.com/upcoming-workshops/2021/8/16/island-mountain-harp-and-cello-school

[Libby Hitchcock]

I love the idea of this one being so intimate and immersive!

[Lydia La]

Ailie Robertson organized a weekend Winter Harp Festival in January with Grainne Hambly, Adriano Sangineto and Tristan Le Govic. It was really nice. All attendants wanted her to organize further festivals. I’ll post the link here if this happens.

There were also some more smaller virtual events last year, but I don’t remember them all because I didn’t attend. One or two were linked to harpmakers. One I found again is Harp on Wight:

https://www.harponwight.co.uk/ will be in october

[Libby Hitchcock]

Oh, I had not found this one as of yet! I wish I had thought to start looking back when the Winter Harp Festival was, that sounds great, I love of them!

[Lydia La]

Ailie plans a Summer Harp Festival now:
https://www.ailierobertson.com/summer-harp-festival/summer-harp-festival
With Maeve Gilchrist, Michael Rooney and Erik Ask-Upmark.

There are some more Online Festivals, I got the infos from Rachel Hairs Harp at Home Series, which had kind of first birthday today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVNs4OEeQy8&t=15s (the tunes are taught by ear for free on youtube, you can buy the sheet music. Each time she also talks a lot about different topics in adittion to the teaching).

She mentioned the following:

Feis Rois (one harp workshop, 2nd May with myself, donation)
30 April-2 May https://feisrois.org/classes-courses/…

​

Ohio Scottish Arts School
June 28 – 2 July https://ohioscottishartsschool.com​

Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks
5 day courses, different harp courses/teachers over 3 weeks
June 28 – 2 July
July 5 – 9
RACHEL TEACHING
July 12-16
https://www.commongroundonthehill.org…

[Libby Hitchcock]

I am so excited for this one! I registered the day I received her email! I really like the format. I am an accountant and we close the company books for quarter end the dates of Common Ground, I was so disappointed to not be able to register!