2024 was a wonderful year as I’ve watched our community grow to include many more adult pupils enjoying classes and community together. Currently, there are 3 adult classes who meet monthly in the picturesque coastal village of Portballintrae to learn and play harp together. There is also a new beginners’ weekly class which runs on a Friday morning.
My pupils in Dunseverick Primary School enjoyed a television appearance on UTV’s ‘History in the Making’ series, where we displayed how we are keeping the ancient tradition of Irish harping alive on the Causeway Coast.
https://www.itv.com/utvprogrammes/articles/history-in-the-making-episode-5
We held a huge harp session in a local coffee shop at Christmas time to raise funds for Choose Love, a humanitarian aid charity for refugees and displaced people globally.
Professor Janet Harbison visited us in June 2024 to teach two workshops and to give a talk and recital on ‘The Belfast Harp Festival of 1792 and the revival of Irish Harping in Ulster.’ This was a unique opportunity for my pupils here to have the chance to learn from the best. Janet is a globally renowned performer, teacher, composer and academic in the realm of Irish harping.
We also recently enjoyed a visit from certified music therapist, Sophia Abraham, who delivered a series of workshops to the community here on Harp Therapy and in Biblical Harp. This was a fascinating insight into the many different opportunities and avenues available in the realm of harp.
Each of my young pupils could probably write their own blog on all the performing they’ve been doing with their harps in their local communities! This is just wonderful for me to watch and I have had so many proud teacher moments watching their successes and achievements! It is always fun to go out as a group though to play at the Mount Druid Vintage Rally in June and The Giants Causeway for St Patrick’s Day!
I also launched a shop on Etsy in which to retail my books and video tutorial bundles. Currently these are in PDF format, but paperbacks are coming soon.
It has been a busy year, but hugely rewarding to see so many people of all ages thoroughly enjoying their journey in learning harp and enjoying friendship and community along the way. It also fills up my heart to hear the ancient music of the Irish harp alive and well on the Causeway Coast!
Katy xx
Causeway Harp School 