Glasbury Arts - Harp Summer School 2024

Glasbury Arts are putting a four day masterclass for Harp & Viloin players of any level at Gwernyfed High School.

The 2024 Harp Summer School has a change of direction and structure from previous years as we include both music for the harp to accompany a violin as well as music for harp players across all teaching groups being taught in sessions with all our tutors listed below. Whilst the timetable when finalised will look similar in terms of timing to previous years, the first 2 days will be taught by Manon Browning (Co-Director of Music, Classical, Traditional folk and   popular music), Eleri Darkins (Co-Director of Music, Classical and Welsh music); Alis Huws (Official Royal Harpist).  Emily Harris (Classical Welsh Harpist) For the final 2 days they will be joined by Katherine Thomas (our first Director of Music and currently   Principal Harp, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) and together with Laurence Kempton are the dazzling, Enigma Duo. Because of the numbers of beginners likely to attend, an Assistant Tutor, Rose Graham, will work with these young people throughout.

Over the the course of four days there will be teaching groups as follows:
Group 1.  Advanced – adults, teenagers
Group 2. Intermediate – adults
Group 3. Intermediate -Teenagers
Group 4 Beginners’ group for young people aged 8-18 and who have achieved grades 1-2 or who are learning music at those levels.

In addition, there will be an exciting evening concert on the Wednesday 21 August at 7.30pm in the Drama Studio, which will also be open to the public, featuring four of our Tutors in the first half with a second half performed by Ben Creighton Griffiths, exciting Jazz Harpist/Composer and Dr Ashley John Long, Base Player/Composer, Professor of Music Cardiff University.

Participants in the Summer school will qualify for a free ticket to this concert.

On Saturday 24 August at 2.30pm. there will be our traditional school final concert with over 30 harps on stage, featuring all the students, performing some of the work they have learnt together and Katherine Thomas and Laurence Kempton.

SECOND COMPOSITION HARP COMPETITION – RULES

1.The competition is for participants in the 2024 Glasbury Arts Harp Summer School, and who are at Grade 6 upwards.

2.Each entrant should be able to demonstrate the beauty and breadth of the harp in their composition. Entries should be submitted in the form of a written score, arranged for harp. Entrants can if they wish, add an audio version as well. Entries should be sent by email to eleridarkins01@gmail.com no later than 5pm on the 14 July 2024.

3.The winner will be invited to perform their entry in the summer school final concert on 24 August 2024.

4.The judges are Eleri Darkins and Manon Browning, and their decision is final.
Find out more information and apply here.