Festival returns
Celebration of harp music is back after pandemic interruption
THE prestigious Wales Harp Festival returns this year after the Covid-19 pandemic forced its cancellation two years ago and into becoming a virtual event in 2021. There will be a live audience at Galeri Caernarfon when it becomes the centre of the harp playing world with the staging of the event for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12-13.
Under the artistic direction of internationally-renowned harpist Elinor Bennett, the festival combines concerts with master classes and workshops, offering harpists of all ages and abilities the opportunity of learning from some of the best performers in the world.
There will be afternoon and evening public concerts which will include the world premiere of a new work for harp.
Elinor said: “I look forward very much to welcoming harpists from all over Wales and beyond to the festival.
“I’m excited also to work with our friends from the harp department of the TU Dublin Conservatoire to celebrate and strengthen the Celtic connection that has existed between Wales and Ireland.
“The competition for the Nansi Richards Award will be held for young Welsh harpists. Lastly, but certainly not least, enthusiastic and progressive teachers will help aspiring harpists with their studies.”
Speaking about the frustration of the past two years caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, she added: “The healing powers of the harp are well-known and the Wales Harp
Festival will provide a fantastic opportunity for harpists and beginner harpists to come together once again.
“I look forward very much to be inspired by other harpists, both younger and older, to create music which will uplift our hearts and spirits, after the anxieties of Covid.
“Let us look together into a better future with positive hearts, by promoting the harp in a Festival that was postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic.”
The Festival Concert on Wednesday
evening features Swansea-born harpist Gwenllian Llyr who will play a new piece by Mared Emlyn and a new arrangement by herself of the well-known hymn tune Calon Lân.
Joining Gwenllian in the concert will be jazz harpist Benjamin Creighton-Griffiths, along with his band – the Transatlantic Hot Club with Adrien Chevalier from New York on violin and Ashley John Long on bass.
Full details of the festival programme can be found at the website: www.walesharpfestival.co.uk.