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Wendy Stewart - Tutor October 2007
Wendy began
learning the Scottish Harp at the age of twelve from one of Scotland's
greatest 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 and
played on Alison Kinnaird's ground breaking Album 'The Harp Key' in
1977. Having completed 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. This helped to widen Wendy's musical horizons still further, enhanced 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 - the latest of which used one of her compositions 'Cairn Water' as the title track.
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 just finished a Fourth Book with play-along CD called 'Scottish Harp for the Terrified'. All books 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 her thorough approach and faithfulness to the tradition, Wendy 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 aforementioned 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 and Harp 2 Ewe are delighted
to be associated with Wendy.
Visit Wendy's site
and do check back to hear what she's been up to!