Tutor for 2011 is Wendy Stewart
Course Dates - 7/8/9th October 2011
Wendy began learning the
Scottish Harp at the age of twelve from one of Scotland's greatest harp
teachers, Jean Campbell and over the years Wendy has continued to
explore all aspects of harp playing and shares her love of harp in
performing, teaching, writing and arranging harp music from the
traditions of Scotland and other countries.
Wendy has been at the forefront of the revival of the Scottish Harp
having played on Alison Kinnaird's ground breaking Album 'The Harp Key'
in 1977. After completing a science degree in the same year, Wendy began
to travel and performed more widely in Britain and Europe, becoming a
member of several traditional bands including Donal Maguire's Occasional
Band, and the interestingly titled bands 'Fat Hen' and 'Pen Gwyn'!
Through this work and the thriving session scene in North-West England,
she developed an interest in Irish, French, Scandinavian, and Cajun
music. Over these years Wendy also continued to develop her teaching
skills, recorded a cassette and LP, and found time to produce two lovely
boys (Young men now!!) with husband Alan!
On moving to Edinburgh in 1990, she was recruited into the ranks of the well-established Scottish band Ceolbeg and this helped to widen Wendy's musical horizons still further, enhancing her arranging and compositional skills and (She says) did wonders for her concertina playing. Major tours, radio and television work and several Ceolbeg CDs followed.
Whilst in the capital, she also released two aptly titled solo albums 'About Time' and 'About Time 2', which along with companion music books have been received with great critical and popular acclaim. It should come as no surprise that her third CD and the companion book, 'Standing Wave' are also hailed a great success. She has also published a Fourth Book with Play-along CD called 'Scottish Harp for the Terrified', while a collaboration with long time friend, Gary West has resulted in a wonderful album called Hinterlands.
All books and CDs are available from Wendy @ www.wendystewart.co.uk and will be available to buy on the course. (Or get in touch with Carole and she'll facilitate it!)
Because of Wendy's thorough approach and faithfulness to the tradition, she has built up a huge reputation and is now in great demand as a teacher at harp courses in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and North America, not to mention all around Scotland. Living in deepest Dumfriesshire, on the banks of the Cairn Water, she is continuing her solo work, having left Ceolbeg in 2001, and her many teaching commitments include tutoring on the BA degree course in Scottish Music at the RSAMD in Glasgow.
Wendy continues to inspire and motivate in her own unique way.
Previous Tutors have included
Heather Yule