A weekend with strings attached

Wales’ national instrument takes centre stage at the National Botanic Garden in a special weekend dedicated to the harp.

Virtuoso harp player Shelley Fairplay will be promoting everything about the instrument during the weekend of July 2-3.

image002.pngShelley has lined-up an extravaganza of harp-related events. There will be a chance for people of all ages to have a go at playing the harp, as well as demonstrations, lectures and plenty of listening pleasure.

One big highlight of the two-day event – which features four concerts and 10 workshops –will be Shelley’s special concert, entitled Harposphere, when she will be joined by Wales’ foremost Triple Harpist Robin Huw Bowen. They will perform at 2.30pm on both days on the stage in the Great Glasshouse.

In addition to teaching & performing Shelley has also created two harp ensembles, called “Dynamic Harps” – one for adults and one for teenagers – both of which are performing at the harp weekend with Shelley leading the groups from her harp.

Shelley said: “The harp is the national instrument of Wales yet many of people living in Wales have never touched one.

“This special weekend is a family-friendly event, a whole weekend for non-harpists to come along and enjoy the harp; to learn, to touch, to play, to hear, to experience. It’s like a harp petting zoo!”

For information about Shelley’s work and more info on Harp Weekend, go to http://www.shelleyfairplay.co.uk/

The Garden is open from 10am to 6pm seven days a week, with last entry at 5pm.

Entry is FREE for Garden members and parking is FREE for all.