Harpists flock to “amazing” Caernarfon festival

The third Wales International Harp Festival, which is being held this week at Galeri, Caernarfon is “an amazing and uncommon festival” according to renowned international harpist Osian Ellis.

Dr Ellis officially opened the festival on Sunday. It is organized by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias and has attracted 80 harpists from all over the world.

Festival Director and international harpist Elinor Bennett is delighted that the festival which is held once every four years, is going from strength to strength.

“The importance of a festival like this is that it enables people from all corners of the world to come together to share their love of music, celebrate diversity, and create friendships that transcend race, country, language, ability or background.

“It’s also an encouraging experience for youngsters to perform and compete at an international level” she said.

This year’s festival celebrates composer William Mathias’ 80^th birthday and in particular his music for the harp.

His daughter, Rhiannon Mathias, is particularly pleased that the festival is providing a platform for musicians from all over the world to take a fresh look at his musical legacy. Sunday’s opening concert was a celebration of his life and work.

“My father lived several different musical lives - first and foremost as a composer, but also as conductor, pianist, Professor of Music at Bangor University and Director of the North Wales Music Festival to mention only a few. Had he lived to see it, he would have been especially proud of the music education provision provided by the Canolfan Gerdd that is named after him.”

The International Harp festival has attracted a number of prominent sponsors amongst them the Confucius Institute also from Bangor University, which aims to promote cultural exchange between China and Wales.

Professor Liying Zhang is the Institute’s Co-Director.

“Music is a very good way to promote cultural exchange so we are very pleased to be one of the sponsors,” she said. “ Both Wales and China have dragons and our dragon project aims to promote Welsh music in China and vice versa particularly as part of this year’s Shanghai Intentional Festival,” she said.

The competitions and concerts will be held in Galeri throughout the week and tickets can be obtained from the box office on 01286 68522.

Further information is available on the festival’s facebook, blog and twitter accounts.