Edinburgh International Harp Festival
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival is an annual harp festival held in Edinburgh, Scotland that includes concerts, workshops, and courses, as well as one of the world's largest exhibitions of harp-makers. Organized and promoted by The Clarsach Society, two staff members, and a team of volunteers, the festival is held in April of each year and attracts more than 500 harpists from more than 25 countries. History and origins. Pilgrim Harps held the first iteration of the festival, then called the Celtic Harp Festival, in 1982 to coincide with the now-defunct Edinburgh Folk  Festival. After two years, the quick growth of what had become the Edinburgh Harp Festival necessitated additional funds and assistance to run it, and Pilgrim Harps continued to support the festival but handed the reins over to the Edinburgh branch of The Clarsach Society. In 1991, the Edinburgh branch in turn handed the festival over to their parent body, The Clarsach Society. The festival has been held every year since its founding, but was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the festival will return in a hybrid format, offering both virtual and in -person events, and move after 20 years in its old location at Merchiston Castle School to George Watson's College. In 2002, the festival changed its name to the Edinburgh International Harp Festival to recognize the increasing numbers of international performers and participants drawn to the event. In 2006, the festival set what was then the Guinness World Record for "largest harp ensemble" by having a group of 201 harpists play together. People. Performers and teachers. Selected performers and teachers from recent festivals include: Festival organizers. As of 2021, festival organizers include Mary Scott (Festival Co-ordinator), Isobel Mieras MBE  (Artistic Advisor), Patsy Seddon (Artistic Advisor), Mary Macmaster (Stage Management), and Rachel Hair (Press and Media). Regular features. Each year, the festival includes three main elements: In recent years, the festival has often included performances of pieces newly commissioned by the festival as well as performances by young, up-and-coming harp players and groups of school-aged harpists. Festival Artistic Advisor Isobel Mieras has stated that one of the festival's goals is to "encourage young talent" in addition to showcasing established musicians. Reviews and media coverage. In 2018, "The Edinburgh Reporter" described that year's festival lineup as  putting "Edinburgh at the centre of world class harping."