Course details:

This course has been run for a number of years each autumn in Kent. This year will be the first year at All Saints in Hertfordshire. All ages and abilities welcome, other than absolute beginners. The course is intended to stimulate interest and enthusiasm for the non-pedal harp in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, although pedal harps are also welcome.

The weekend will start with supper on the Friday evening, and ends at about 4 pm on Sunday, following tea.

Adult course attendees will be divided into three groups, according to experience. There will be a separate children's group (elementary level). The adult groups will each have three teaching sessions, one with each of three tutors, and the elementary children's group will be taught by separate tutors. There will also be a ceilidh on the Saturday evening, and recitals. A detailed timetable will be sent out to course participants.

It may be possible to hire a harp for the weekend - please ask if you are interested in doing so.

Tutors:

Gwenan Gibbard

Gwenan is from the Llyn peninsula in north-west Wales . She was brought up in a Welsh speaking family in which singing and Welsh culture in general played an integral part. Having graduated in music from the University of Wales Bangor, and gaining a masters degree in performance and research in the field of Welsh music, she went on to further her studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

She has won many harp and singing competitions at The National Eisteddfod of Wales and other festivals, and has taught and performed at the Edinburgh Harp Festival.

See Gwenan's website - www.gwenangibbard.com

Tristan le Govic :

From Lorient ( Brittany ), Tristan has a Masters degree in Music ( University of Rennes ) the Diploma of Music Writing (Conservatoire of Nantes) and a teaching diploma, and is now an experienced traditional teacher and freelance musician based in Glasgow .

He has taught Breton music classes at the Edinburgh Harp Festival, and is on the committee of the Glasgow branch of the Clarsach Society.

See Tristan's website - www.tristanlegovic.eu

Steph West :

An English harper, singer and arranger, Steph is passionate about the folk music of the British Isles . Her first studies were classical violin, piano, and voice. When she started studying Early Music, she was offered a medieval harp to play, and rapidly set about absorbing this new and wonderful instrument.

Steph now works full time playing and teaching, in Oxford and Hertfordshire. She has previously taught for the Clarsach Society London & South-East branch in 2008.

See Steph's website - www.stephwest.co.uk

Sue Rothstein :

Sue Rothstein has led a successful and varied career, mainly as an orchestral harpist. After studying harp with Renata Scheffel-Stein at the Royal Academy of Music Sue was appointed principal harpist of the Bremerhaven Stadt Orchestra in Germany . After returning to London she became free-lance, working regularly with many orchestras, and together with Sarah Deere-Jones formed The London Harp Duo. As a composer,

Sue has written serious and light compositions primarily for combinations of harp, piano and voice. Sue is also sought after as a visiting teacher and adjudicator.

See Sue's website - www.suerothstein.co.uk

Jamie Mason :

Jamie is the leader of the International Harp Ensemble founded by Luisa-Maria Cordell. He is the Youth Advisor on the committee of the Clarsach Society London & South-East branch, and will be teaching a workshop at this weekend.

Location:

The venue for the course is All Saints Pastoral Centre, Shenley Lane , London Colney, Herts. AL2 1AF.

All Saints Pastoral Centre is a Conference and Retreat Centre owned by the Diocese of Westminster Roman Catholic Church and set in 70 acres of grounds offering a tranquil and peaceful setting.

The Centre is situated on the outskirts of London and lies south of St Albans in Hertfordshire. There is easy access from the M25 motorway and good connections from the M1 motorway and A1(M). St Albans Thameslink Railway Station is only 4 miles away with fast connections to London , Brighton or Bedford .

Most of the accommodation is in single rooms; there are also a few twin rooms. The rooms have washbasins but are not ensuite.

Details of how to get to All Saints are available on their website.

Booking:

A booking form can be downloaded here, or contact us for more information.

All new course members will be given free membership of the London & South-East Branch of the Clarsach Society for the remainder of the branch year (October 2009-June 2010).

Bursary places:

We are offering two reduced-rate places at this course. Applicants must be 18 or under and live in the membership area of the London & South-East Branch of the Clarsach Society (but do not currently have to be members of the Clarsach Society), and must provide a letter of recommendation from their teacher. Anyone who has received a bursary place at the autumn residential course in previous years is not eligible. The closing date for applications for these places is October 2nd.

For more details or to apply for one of these places please email us.

Previous courses:

Previous courses were held at The Friars, in Kent.

In 2006 tutors were Diego Laverde, Grainne Hambly, Wendy Stewart, and Mike Parker. Click here to read a review of the course.

In 2008 the course was taught by Danielle Perrett, Sue Rothstein, Cheyenne Brown, Kathleen Loughnane, Luisa-Maria Cordell and Mike Parker, and you can read reviews of that course here and here.