Dumfries & Galloway Report 2022-23

“Small but beautifully formed” could be our line for the D&G Branch. We have around 20 subscribing members, but only average 6 for playing sessions. We range in ages from teens to 90+, from drivers to not-any-longer drivers, and from beginners to competent through to don’t-practise-enough players. But we all enjoy playing together, and very much appreciate the arrangements our wonderful Convenor, Wendy Stewart, brings for us. Wendy has also provided extra Zoom sessions for our more distant members.

During the year we had our regular monthly playing sessions, mostly in the Dumfries area, with one “outreach” in Kirkcudbright. Driving remains a worry to me, both because a number of our members are no longer happy driving in the dark, and because we would like to be more environmentally friendly, but we do try to car-share as much as possible.

We were to be part of a songWave concert in December, but owing to a misunderstanding, this became background music. In December we did have background music at the Kirkcudbright Galleries on a Sunday afternoon, which was very generously received by the visitors.

We remain endlessly grateful to Wendy for her generosity and skilful teaching, among her other varied performing engagements.

Lyn Walby, Secretary

Bristol & West of England Report 2022-23

We have discovered a new venue for meetings this year and have had a couple of enjoyable workshops there, led by Julia Hammersley, including our annual Christmas get together, where we learned some new festive tunes and revisited old favourites, as well as enjoying lunch together.

This year, things have been quieter on the meetings front than usual, owing to the Convenor and Secretary being very busy, but we hope to get more dates in the diary soon. 

Our hire harps have been almost continuously on loan throughout the year, including our two recently acquired Salvis.  The revenue they’ve brought in allowed us to sponsor a workshop at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival.

Catherine Dack Secretary

Argyll Branch Report 2022

The Argyll Branch has forged ahead this year with a full programme of monthly workshops, led by the wonderful and very patient Ingrid Henderson. We’ve missed playing together and now make time in the day to revise old favourites as well as learn new pieces.

We also planned a number of ‘Come and Try’ events and as a result, we have welcomed some new beginners to the branch and hope to follow this up with another event later in the year.

We also managed to hold a residential weekend and with three days of tutoring, we came away with new pieces, plus a whole new set of accompanying skills. Thank you Ingrid for your encouragement and expert tuition!

Alicia Chapple, Secretary

Edinburgh Branch Workshops

Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall, EH14 1HS
£8 by bank transfer
clarsoc.edin@gmail.com

Saturday 29 April 2-4.30pm One-off workshop with Ellie Heatherington

Saturday 13 May 2-4.30pm One-off workshop with Karen Marshalsay

 Saturday 10 June 2-4.30pm One-off workshop with Wendy Stewart

Saturday 24 June 2-4.30pm One-off workshop with Fiona Rutherford

Thursday 8 June 7pm Free

Join a relaxed meeting of the Edinburgh Branch and Sunita Stanelow’s harp group from USA on their visit to Scotland

Craigmiller Park Church

2c Craigmiller Park

EH16 5PG