Glasbury Arts Harp Summer School set to strike a chord again this year
One of the highlights of the annual Glasbury Arts season is the Harp Summer School, now in its 13th year, and featuring some changes being introduced to enhance participants’ experience.
As always, there will be the traditional mix of workshops and masterclasses for young people and adults to help improve their harp playing at the summer school held at Gwernyfed High School, Three Cocks.
Students, irrespective of their playing level, will experience four musical genres, Classical, Welsh Folk, Jazz and Improvisation and arrangements for harp orchestra/ensembles.
Tutors this year will be co-directors of music, Manon Browning (arrangements for harp/orchestra/ensembles) and Eleri Darkins (Welsh folk music) joined by Emily Harris (classical) and Amanda Whiting (jazz and improvisation) who will be at the school on August 21 and 23.
Rose Graham will once again join the summer school as an associate tutor to work with younger participants.
There will be two concerts, the first on Thursday, August 21, at which the tutors will play, with the final concert bringing the school to a close with the traditional final concert featuring all the students and more than 30 harps on the afternoon of Saturday, August 23.
There will be three levels of teaching, advanced (grades 6-8), adult intermediate (grades 3-6), young people intermediate (grades 2-5) and beginners (grade 1 upwards). Participants do not have to have sat grade exams but will be playing music at these levels.
Students who have achieved Grade 6 and above are, for a third year, invited to enter Glasbury Arts’ Composition Harp Competition – entrants should demonstrate the beauty and breadth of the harp in their composition.
Submissions, in the form of a written score should be sent by email to eleri.darkins@btinternet.com no later than 5pm on July 14. The winner will be invited to perform their entry in the summer school final concert.
Early Bird booking is now open, with discounts on tickets booked before Monday, March 31.
For those who would find it easier to pay by instalments, email johnfitz59@hotmail. To book go to: www.glasburyarts.co.uk and follow the harps links.
With thanks to the generosity of people and organisations who have provided long term financial support including Marie Carson, WJ Ricketts and Sons, Mid Wales Music Trust and Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity.
