The Edinburgh Branch of the Clarsach Society is delighted to announce a weekend of clarsach playing at the peaceful and tranquil Gillis Centre in the Grange area of Edinburgh from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 February 2010. The tutors will be Catriona McKay and Fiona Rutherford. In addition, there will be a rehearsal for members of Na Clarsairean, the Scottish Harp Orchestra, and anyone else wishing to participate in the ensemble class at the 2010 Edinburgh International Harp Festival on the Saturday afternoon with Isobel Mieras.
FFI CONTACT harpbreak@fsmail.net or telephone Sandra Hollingdale on 0131 447 9329 or Stephanie Harrison on 01620 860 239
¨13th DecCeremony of Carols.With harpist Sue Rothstein. St Bride's Church, Fleet St, London Ceremony of Carols. With harpist Sue Rothstein. St Bride's Church, Fleet St, London www.suerothstein.co.uk
Ardival harps http://www.ardival.com/ run courses on medieval and wire strung harps. They are based in Scotland, but send ambassadors to Mercia now and again.
hold an Adult Teaching Festival, held at Ullapool over the first May Bank Holiday. They can lend you a harp if you don't want to clutter your car.
If you're not keen on driving, there are only two buses a day from Inverness timed to coincide with the ferry from Stornaway - my informant tells me the first bus goes at @9am and the last one at 2.30 pm. The night sleeper from London misses the first bus and the plane from Luton misses the second! There is a redeye flight to Glasgow from Luton, which gives just enough time to get a bus from Buchanan Street to Inverness and through to Ullapool, but coming back it means either a night in Inverness or Glasgow unless you miss the Monday classes.
Skye, Sabhal Mor Ostaig
If you fancy going to Skye, Sabhal Mor Ostaig does some clarsach courses, as well as other instruments or Gaelic.