Girl’s fundraiser to buy new harp

A girl who won top prizes in music competitions at the Royal National Mod is trying to raise £8,000 for a new instrument.

Meredith Kennedy Kiemer is a 12-year-old harpist specialising in the clarsach. From the north, she is now studying in Edinburgh and lives in Stirling.

While the young woman studies at one of the top music schools in Scotland, meeting the cost of a new instrument is proving almost impossible for her mum.

Meredith said: “The harp I currently own has become structurally unstable and is in danger of falling apart at any time, so a replacement is urgent. It could fall apart in a competition.

“I don’t have a huge family behind me supporting me, so any support will be gratefully received.”

Competing in the Royal National Mod in Dunoon this week, Meredith won the gold medal for clarsach composition; gold medal for advanced junior clarsach; and silver for clarsach recital where she was at least four years younger than the other competitors.

Meredith, who lived in Oban for a number of years, also won the gold medal in the under-13s fiddle competition.

Getting a new clarsach is vitally important for the youngster as she has been invited to play at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival in April 2019.

Scottish harpist Savourna Stevenson said: “Meredith finds real joy in playing the harp. She is unusually dedicated to her musical studies.

“At only 12 years of age, there is already a great maturity to her playing and I am confident that, given the support she deserves, she has the potential to build a career in music.”

Meredith is in receipt of highly competitive award from the Awards for Young Musicians, which covers the cost of her music lessons. Meredith’s crowdfunding page can be found at www. aharpformeredith.com

Meredith Kennedy, 12, of Stirling, with the Duncan Chisholm Trophy