Stamford Harp Festival
Highlights 2005
Once again the event was a great success, with a friendly
atmosphere and a truly international feel. This page will take shape
as more people send us their photos (direct to tim@change-works.com
please).
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From the organisers
On behalf of all those who made it happen for the 7th time, thank you!
The feedback is already coming in! It's great to read such nice things about what happened.
Thanks to the Stamford Endowed School who allowed us in to use their facilities... bigger classrooms and close, secure parking. Universally approved!
Thanks to the harp exhibitors who stood around and worked whilst we harpists all played and had fun: Salvi, Pilgrim, Clive Morley and others: stars of the harp-making world!
We had over 17 classes and 12 performers on three nights of stages (only one performer was actually English) and we ran the festival classes over three days for the first time. The classes were diverse and of the highest standard; all the income went to the teachers themselves. Brownes Hospitalle was an amazing and intimate venue. The choice was between a large and impersonal theatre, and a smaller and more attractive stage. We chose Brownes, a beautiful ancient ambiance.
The Sunday BBQ was particularly fun and the impromptu playing startlingly good. Though harpists are often nominally teetotal over 50 empty wine bottles were taken to the recycling centre!
We had our first visitor from the USA - Holly Goff. Merit Zloch travelled 24 hours overland, from the Polish border of the old East Germany, to play for us. A people's heroine of the harp.
On Monday the 29th we relaxed and did accounts... Essentially the festival just about runs at neither a loss nor a profit, but income does not nearly cover the administration that is involved. We are beholden to those small amounts of subsidy from the various supporters, and ourselves, that cumulatively keep it going. Letters of support go a long way to help obtaining these.
Two quotes about the harp festival:
- “It was the best international concert I have ever been to.”
- “...some of the audience said that they wanted to stay... and hear the whole concert again” (Church ladies' group)
Thank you to all the players and the people who supported the Stamford Harp Festival - and particularly to Maeve Lowings and Jennifer Sturdy, the real Organisers.
Andy Lowings
Thanks to:
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Brownes Hospital Stamford Clive Morley Harps Ian Urch and family Lincs. County Council. Neil Fallows design Pam Radford Peterborough City Council Pilgrim Harps
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Salvi Harps and Holywell Music South Kesteven District Council St Andrews Church, Northborough Stamford and Rutland Clarsach Society Stamford Endowed Schools Stamford Town Council The Clarsach Society Tim Gray - website design |
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Sylvia Reiss in the Sunday concert
at Northborough church |
