This year, nine students participated in the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music
Festival's weekend harp retreat, taking advantage of instruction from world-renowned
harpists Maire Ni Chathasaigh, Lynn Saoirse, Park Stickney and Heather Yule and cellist
Abby Newton.
Geologist and bagpiper John Rogers said he signed up for the seminar this year after
taking a free harp lesson at last year’s festival.
"I had always loved the harp and I thought I’d give it a try," he said.
After his lesson he went back to his home in Albuquerque, N.M., found a teacher and
bought his own harp. He said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend his weekend
learning more.
Student Joanna Cook plays at a harp retreat class taught by
Maire Ni Chathasaigh (background).
CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/TAMMY ALHADEF
"It was this or a three-day geological conference," he said. "I chose this."
Joanna Cook, of Morrison, Colo., said this was her second time to come to the
retreat.
"It’s just a more specialized retreat," she said. "And I think the level of the
students is higher."
The retreat, which continues today, offers a tremendous resource for intermediate to
advanced students to learn about different styles of playing. For $235, students receive
15 hours of instruction.
Chathasaigh and Saoirse, both from Ireland, gave students in-depth instruction on
ornamentation and performance.
Stickney, a New Yorker who plays jazz on an enormous concert harp, offered students
tips on improvisation and how to harmonize with other instruments.
Storyteller and harpist Yule showed students how to incorporate storytelling into a
performance.
Retreat organizer Nancy Joroff said as word gets out about the quality of instruction,
more people attend.
"We have harpists here from all over to take these classes," she said, "Texas,
Oklahoma, New Mexico, even as far as Maine."
The festival continues today in La Veta with individual classes for harpists,
fiddlers, singers, mandolin and banjo players.
A family concert is scheduled at 1 p.m. at the Francisco Center for the Performing
Arts. The Strings on Fire concert, which features Chathasaigh and guitarist Chris Newman,
is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Huerfano County Fairgrounds.
For more information, call 742-5410, or visit www.celticmusicfest.com.
