Sponsor a string on a harp
AN acclaimed teaching centre is hoping to tug at the heart strings of music lovers by offering them the chance to support the studies of talented young harpists.
Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias in Caernarfon, which is providing tuition for more than 400 aspiring musicians, has launched its Sponsor a String appeal which aims to raise cash by inviting people to “buy” one or more of the strings on a traditional Welsh triple harp.
All the he money raised will go towards creating three scholarships of £1,500 each to be offered as prizes to winners of the Youth Competition during this year’s fourth annual Wales International Harp Festival to be staged at Galeri Caernarfon from April 1-7.
Festival director Elinor Bennett says she can’t think of a better way of helping to nurture young talent.
She said: “The Youth Competition at the Wales International Harp Festi- val is for young harpists aged 19 or under and the prizes of three equal scholarships of £1,500 are meant to help the winners pay for a series of lessons from a specialist tutor of their choice. The cost of specialist music tuition can be prohibitive to many families and this money would make a great deal of difference to develop a young harpist’s potential. As a guide, one hour’s lesson can cost between £40 and £100, which some people would be hard pressed to find.
“Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, which offers high-quality tuition in a range of musical instruments at its centres in Galeri Caernarfon as well as Denbigh and Ruthin, came up with the Sponsor a String appeal to help get the careers of young musicians off to a flying start by offering these very valuable scholarships.”
Elinor added: “Entries for festival’s Youth Competition are going very well and we eventually expect to attract up to 25 young musicians. Some will be coming from the USA and Russia specially to take part.”
To support the Sponsor a String appeal, go to: www.walesharpfestival. co.uk/sponsor-a-string/ Alternatively, call in at Canolfan Gerdd Wlliam Mathias at Galeri Caernarfon.