Here are a range of events and workshops that will interest harpists and harp enthusiasts. Events presented by the Harp Society of WA will be noted in the description.
Entry to the 2021 Harp Music Composition Competition is now open!
Entries will be judged by internationally renowned harpist, Alice Giles. Harpists of all ages and skill levels are invited to enter and all genres of music are welcome. All pieces can be up to 3 minutes in length. There is no minimum length. Alice will provide feedback for the composer of each piece.
This year we have two overall prizes. The overall winner of 'Music with a score' will win $150 to spend at Harporia and free Harp Society of WA membership next year, and the overall winner of 'Music without a score' will win $100 to spend at Harporia and free Harp Society of WA membership next year.
To enter, email an MP4 video recording of yourself playing your piece, a written score if you have one, the completed entry form (attached to this email) and proof that you have paid the entry fee to harpsocietywa@gmail.com. The entry form is a Word document that can be filled in electronically, so you don't have to print and scan it. Entry is $20 for Harp Society of WA members and $40 for non-members. One entry per person.
Entries are open from Sunday the 1st of August to Sunday the 19th of September 2021.
If you have any questions, email harpsocietywa@gmail.com.
Busselton Repertory Club presents 'Harp on the Willow', the incredible true story of Mary O'Hara, the famous Irish harpist and Singer and folk music legend. You will laugh and you will cry and you will be thrilled by the beautiful singing. See how she copes when Tyrone Kane comes into her life and turns it upside down with his unorthodox approach to life. It is a story told with songs, drama and humour. Audiences will always remember it for all of this and more!
Weld Theatre Busselton, corner of Queen and Adelaide Streets.
Friday 16 April 7:30pm
Saturday 17 April 7:30pm
Sunday 18 April 2pm
Thursday 22 April 7:30pm
Friday 23 April 7:30pm
Saturday 24 April 7:30pm
Sunday 25 April 2pm
The Harp Society of Western Australia will host a harp improvisation and embellishment workshop, presented by fantastic local harpist and teacher, Catherine Ashley.
When: Saturday 27 March 1pm-5pm. Arrive by 12:40pm to set up.
Where: Elevate Church Hall, 61 Alexander Road (corner of Kooyong Road) Rivervale. Ample parking at the rear, off Alexander Road.
Cost: Harp Society of WA members $30. Non-members $55.
Booking: Book by the end of Friday 26 March. Make a direct debit payment to the Harp Society account and (if you can) email your payment record to harpsocietywa@gmail.com. If you need to pay another way, send an email.
Account name: Harp Society of Western Australia Inc.
BSB: 036-019
Account No.: 181192
Reference: Your last name and 'improv workshop' (e.g. Smith improv workshop)
Bring: Harp, harp chair, music stand, notebook and pen.
Afternoon tea will be provided.
More information about the workshop will be available soon.
I’m so excited to tell you about the second live-stream concert for the year! It is going to be a very special one – I’ll be joined by audience favourite, radio broadcaster, dear friend and wonderful harpist Genevieve Lang on Friday March 26. The combination of cello and harp is a pretty special one – I know if you haven’t heard it before, you’ll totally love it. We’ll be playing music by Bach (of course!), Mendelssohn, Faure, Arvo Pärt and Villa-Lobos – and I know you’ll enjoy every minute of it!
If you’d like to get a ticket you just need to click on this link - https://events.humanitix.com/bitd2021celloharp - and then follow the information there. A couple of things to know – we will STOP selling tickets at 4.30 on the day of the concert. (At this point, things get a bit frantic here, sending out links and dealing with microphones.) The link will also be live for a few days – so if you are out (or live in a different time-zone), know that you can still join us – this link will still work for a number of days after the concert.
I hope that you can join us, wherever you may be in the world – we’d love to have you virtually with us!
Rachel Scott
This is not a Harp Society of WA event. The event will take place from 7pm to 8:15pm AEDT, which is 4pm to 5:15pm in WA.
Harpy Hour is an online gathering where you can play a piece of music for a friendly audience, or listen to harpists play. Open to members and non-members, it’s a great opportunity to catch up, meet new people and be inspired. If you’d like to play, please choose a piece under three minutes in length.
Extra points if you play something Irish. It’s nearly St Patrick’s Day!
Email harpsocietywa@gmail.com for an invitation. You do not need to have Zoom installed to join the online meeting.
Harpy Hour is an online gathering where you can play a piece of music for a friendly audience, or listen to harpists play. Open to members and non-members, it’s a great opportunity to catch up, meet new people and be inspired. If you’d like to play, please choose a piece under three minutes in length. Extra points for playing something romantic for Valentine’s Day! Email harpsocietywa@gmail.com for an invitation. You do not need to have Zoom installed to join the online meeting.
Who is the girl in the mirror? In this one hour show, Perth harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter Eliza Bourgault will perform the songs from her debut album Girl in the Mirror.
With her poetic lyrics, gentle voice and expressive piano and harp playing, Eliza explores some of the major themes of her life in a powerful and moving way: love and heartbreak, trust and betrayal, loneliness and connection.
Presented by:
Eliza BourgaultEliza Bourgault is a classically trained harpist and pianist whose love of singing and writing led her to release a debut album in November 2020 titled "Girl in the Mirror". Tickets: https://fringeworld.com.au/.../the-girl-in-the-mirror-fw2021
Yi-Yun Loei will perform in the Cygnus Arioso Chamber Music Weekend, four concerts held at the Perth Concert Hall on 30 - 31 January.
The programs feature major works in the harp chamber repertoire, including Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, Caplet's Conte Fantastique (The Masque of the Red Death), and a septet arrangement of Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun!
Details can be found on the Perth Concert Hall website: https://perthconcerthall.com.au/wha.../chamber-music-weekend
Reunited brings together Esfandiar Shahmir on Ney and Kira Gunn on harp to celebrate the heart of Iran, a country that embraces its Persian history.
The re-union of these two instruments in modern time is rare, however there are poems and paintings illustrating the relationship between them from centuries ago. Since this time the harp has been used in other styles while the seven-segment ney has remained iconic to Iran.
This performance includes traditional Iranian folk music, improvisation, and original pieces by both Esfandiar and Kira.
"If you can grab a ticket I strongly advise you to go and see it." Fringefeed 2019 on Esfandiar with Kohesia Ensemble
Presented by:
Esfandiar Shahmir and Kira Gunn
Esfandiar Shahmir is a world class ney and daf player.
Born in Tehran, Esfandiar studied daf (traditional Iranian frame drum) with the legendary Bijan Kamkar and ney (traditional Iranian flute). Since 2004, Esfandiar has recorded five albums with this ensemble and toured around Iran and internationally, performing in Canada, the USA and Europe.
In 2009 government officials banned the ensemble from performing in Iran. Esfandiar moved to Australia and has been collaborating with Perth bands such as Eastwinds
String Theory. An evening of jazz harp.
28th-29th of January.
Info & tickets: https://fringeworld.com.au/.../string-theory-an-evening...
As the likes of Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby have shown, the iconic style of jazz can be fused with the most iconic classical instrument.
Join jazz harpist Michelle Smith for a very special performance as she showcases the endless and unique sounds of the Harp ranging from swing music, world jazz to contemporary RnB.
After studying abroad in the US, Michelle has since performed sell out shows throughout Australia and given a feature story on SBS World News for her rare fusion of styles on one of the worlds' most ancient instruments. Accompanied by 2020 Martin Sims award winner Kate Pass on double bass and Talya Valenti on Drums, this unique trio will make for a performance always to be remembered and certainly not to be missed.
Presented by:
Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith's versatility with her 47 string harp has made her a unique performer, wowing audiences in Australia and USA with her original solo Harp performances.
Michelle has received critical acclaim for her version of Jimi Hendrix 'Red House’ and Mosdef ‘Mathematics’ which landed her a feature story on SBS World News. This had made a large footprint in the Hip Hop world for her, working alongside producers from the UK, performing with Aria Award winners Karnivool and Nationally renowned Hip-Hop artist Mathas.
Harpist Catherine Ashley will make guest appearances in Impro Musical Bangtown!
16th, 20th, 21st and 23rd of January.
Info & tickets: https://fringeworld.com.au/.../impro-musical-bangtown-fw2021
2020 Christmas Harp Party! We had a lovely morning at Kent St Weir Park yesterday. Ten harpists formed an ensemble to play Christmas carols, a few people sang and we even had a harp and ukulele duet. Many visitors to the park stopped to listen and occasionally children would run up, look wide-eyed at the harps, then run off. Our game of Kris Kringle was very polite and did not plunge into the chaos traditionally associated with the game. A good time was had by all.
