Virtual Open Day 2021
SUNDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2021

Although we are enjoying more freedom this year we have decided to protect our loyal customers and staff by holding another virtual open day this year.
​
Each year we hold an open day in the Autumn, filled with concerts, workshop tours, BBQ's, making new friends, trying the harps, laughter and fun! We are so lucky to be able to fill your screens again this year with harpy goodness from our workshop in Surrey.

This year not only will we be filling your screens with concerts and workshop tours but we will also be releasing some FAQ videos for our clients to use at home. All of the videos will be released on this page, on our instagram and facebook on 10th October 2021. Don't worry if you are not free - all of our videos will be available to view here or on our youtube after they have been released.

​We really hope you all enjoy the day and happy harping everyone!

11am - Student Showcase Concert

12pm - FAQ's - How to tie a harp string knot

1pm - FAQ'S - How to attach a harp string - Lever Harp

2pm - FAQ'S - How to attach a harp string - Pedal Harp

3pm - Concert with Resident Harpist - Fran Barsby

4pm - The Pilgrim Skylark

5pm - Our Workshop

Open days from the past....

Virtual Open Day 2020

Once a year we hold an open day in the Autumn, filled with concerts, workshop tours, BBQ's, making new friends, trying the harps, laughter and fun! This year due to Covid19 we are holding our annual open day online.

This year we are incredibly lucky to be able to offer our annual free concerts. But this year they will be live on Facebook thanks to our fantastic harpy friends from around the world!
​They will also be available on Youtube after the day so you can catch up with all the action. 

A virtual tour around our workshop

12pm - Erica Sinclair

Erica Sinclair is a Scottish harpist currently based in Birmingham where she plays and teaches. She began studying clarsach aged seven with Bill Taylor, and began her studies in pedal harp with Alina Bzhezhinska in 2009 at Edinburgh Napier University. She then studied with Catherine White at Birmingham Conservatoire. Erica performs regularly throughout the UK, both as an orchestral player and as a soloist; in 2015 she was soloist alongside Catherine O'Rourke for Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto with the Highland Chamber Orchestra, and is principal harpist with the Mahler  Players.
​www.ericasinclairmusic.co.uk

1pm - Meredith McCrindle

Meredith McCrindle is one of Scotland's most in-demand harpists. Meredith has played numerous celebrity events for public figures, politicians and royalty. ​

Meredith McCrindle is a native of Houston, Texas and has played professionally since 1999 and has been teaching harpists of all ages since 2004. In June 2016 she appeared in Vogue's 100th issue and in June 2017 received a glowing review in the Tatler Magazine wedding guide. Meredith maintains an active performance career, which includes many weddings, special events and guest appearances in the U.K. and internationally. She also maintains resident harp positions at Dumfries House and Trump Turnberry.
​www.meredithmccrindle.com

2pm - Lunchtime Student Showcase Concert
(Live on Facebook)

Each year we hold a lunchtime performance platform concert for harp students of all ages and abilities.
This year's performance platform will be showcasing the talents of students from Warwickshire.

3pm - The Willow Trio 

Based in Glasgow, 'The Willow Trio' are a clarsach trio focussed on playing their own compositions and arrangements of both classical and traditional music. Having recently received funding from GCAN (Glasgow Connected Arts Network) the trio have been working on an exciting new project arranging Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake for three clarsachs.Out-with the trio, each member follows a diverse career – multi-instrumentalist Sam MacAdam performs with The Sleekit Beasties, composer Romy Wymer is preparing for her performance in the final of the Dutch Harp Festival and Sophie Rocks tours her award winning solo show 'From Shetland to Shanghai' across the UK.In their spare time, the trio enjoys everything from rock climbing and running to nights in with board games and hanging out with the cats!
​www.facebook.com/thewillowtrioharps/

4pm - Pilgrim Harps Resident Harpist, Fran Barsby 
(Live on Facebook)

Fran enjoys a busy career as our resident harpist, the Director of PoppyHarp, Director of The Future Blend Project and as a professional event harpist and teacher. 

Fran is our Pilgrim Harp whirlwind! She has so much passion and enthusiasm for everything harp! She is a consummate  performer and superb teacher. Everything Fran does, is done with such drive. It is going to be interesting to see where it takes her" 
​- Pilgrim Harps
 www.franbarsbyharpist.co.uk

5pm - Rosanna Moore
(Live on Facebook)

A quirky and engaging performer, harpist and actor Rosanna Moore is quickly making a name for herself as an innovative performer and storyteller. Musically, she performs with a number of ensembles such as Ensemble Signal, Rochester Philharmonic, Lake George Music Festival, Slee Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes and all around NY state and beyond, as well as with her chamber ensembles Sticks&Strings, Trio Alexander and Hats+Heels. As an actress she works as a narrator and voiceover artist, often combining the two art forms wherever possible. 
https://www.rosannaharp.com
Moore actively performs internationally and won accolades for her performances with the World Harp Festival and Tierra47 competitions. Her writings have recently been published by both Harp Column and Contemporary Music Review. 
As a professional composer collector, Rosanna’s passion for new music has led to a collection of new concerti, solo and chamber works. She is often consulted by composers and regularly gives workshops on writing for the harp. One upcoming project will be a new concerto for the Electric Delta Harp written by Grammy Award Winner DJ Sparr. She is also a harpist and advisor for The Future Blend Project.
In addition to performing, Rosanna is also Instructor of Harp/ Musician in Residence at the University of Oregon and the Harp Instructor at Opus Ithaca. In these roles, she works to bring the harp to as many students as possible and teaches students of all ages and abilities. She was recently elected as President of the Rochester Chapter of the American Harp Society. 
Rosanna recently completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music, with a minor in theatre. During her studies, she was gratefully supported by the Eileen Malone Scholarship. Her wonderful mentors throughout the years have been Eira Lynn Jones and Kathleen Bride. Her research into music and theatre won her honorable mention in Eastman’s Lecture Recital Prize, was presented in a workshop with Lilac94 at the AHS Institute in 2019, and led her to be invited to perform at the World Harp Congress in Cardiff, 2021.

6pm - A look over open days of the past

OPEN DAY 2019

"Had such a good time at the Open Day, listening to harp music, learning a lot more about wood (my favourite part of the process) and just enjoying being amongst such a variety of old and cutting-edge new instruments. Not to mention all the friendly people! The veggie burgers were good too . . . I have at last learnt to tie the right knot when replacing strings so they don't come undone while I'm fiddling about. Huge thanks to John and everybody who came in to explain so beautifully to the large, all-age, all-stage community of those who love affairs of the harp. Fabulous event."
Mary Mitchell-Gogay

Concert Line Up 2019

A HUGE thank you to all of our guests musicians this year. We had some spectacular concerts and our day was filled with an eclectic mix of music exploring the versatility of the harp. It was so fantastic to have such an incredible showcase of what the harp can do!
Line up: 
Ellie Ford
Keziah Thomas
Margaret Watson
​Liehsja Blaxland de Lange ​
​Sue Rothstein
​The Harp Bakers & friends Led by Susannah Evans & Brenda Dor-Groot

OPEN DAY 2018

Come and Try Tent 2018

Harpists Fran Barsby and Anna Blumire taught form 10am - 4pm in our come and try tent. It was fantastic to see so many new faces try out the harp for the first time.

​Good luck to everyone that has now begun their harp journey! 

CONCERT TENT

​Main Tent - FREE Concert Series

We had a show stopping array of artists for you again this year.
As well as something new and exciting!
(Keep scrolling for the Jazz Tent)

10am - Anna Blumire
11am - Friends of Pilgrims
12pm - Lucy Bunce 
1pm - Fiona Hosford
2pm - Alexander Rider
​3pm - Iona Thomas & Cerian Holland

10am - Anna Blumire

Anna Blumire has been playing the harp from the age of seven and has always loved music. She grew up surrounded by harps as her dad Jerry Blumire is one of the directors here at Pilgrim Harps. She is currently studying the harp at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Val Aldrich-Smith and wants to go on to study music therapy. 

Anna's concert was a beautifully relaxing jazz inspired experience. Lovely popular tunes such a Moon River and My Favourite Things send the audience to a beautiful sound world they hadn't experienced before.
Thank you Anna for your stunning performance.  

11am - Friends of
​Pilgirm Harps 

We were lucky enough this year to have a brilliant collection of young harpists ready to play for us. They performed an eclectic mix of music - including Tournier played by Lucy Bishop, Tides of Wight and Einaudi performed by Sam Rose to mention just a few -  something for everyone.
​
Just think how far you could come in just a few years time! 

12pm -  Lucy Bunce

"A beautifuly moving performance, we loved that you sang so many songs that were so personal to you" - Lucy Bishop 

Thank you Lucy for your gorgeous performance we feel so lucky that you came to perform for us all. 
​
Lucy grew up in a house full of music: one of her earliest memories is standing by her father and singing while he played the piano. She was encouraged to sing at local poetry and folk evenings from the age of four with him accompanying on guitar. Lucy learned to play the piano and oboe as a young girl, and at ten began studying the harp at Bexley Music Centre. She studied for a music degree at King’s College London before moving to Cambridge. Here, she studied Music Therapy, before teaching at King’s College School, Cambridge, and then as Director of Music at St Faith’s School in Cambridge. Having left full-time teaching in 2014, Lucy now divides her time between performing, recording, composing, teaching, and leading worship. She currently directs the choir of St Andrew’s Church in Cherry Hinton and is also the Chaplaincy Harpist at Addenbrookes Hospital. Lucy has released four solo albums: May the rain fall softly (2008), Penny on the water (2010) Somewhere between the words (2016) and Songs for Christmas (2017) with GingerDog Records. Setting my sails is due out next year.

1pm Fiona Hosford

Described as friendly and approachable, Fiona is blessed with a strong sense of humour and a personality to match her energetic and dynamic playing styles on the Harp.
By the time she was 14, Fiona had attained a Distinction at Grade 8 on the pedal Harp and at this point, her career ideas were of becoming a Harpist, Entomologist and Graphic Designer! Realising that cloning was not yet available, she continued her Harp studies, whilst also obtaining a BA(Hons) in Design from Brunel University, London and after graduating, she worked for a design studio, whilst still performing with the Harp when not designing.
She also worked at the illustrious Pilgrim Harps for four years in between all of this!
Fiona’s extensive experience performing throughout the UK and abroad has been for over 15 years, with her locating her own residencies in London, Cyprus and aboard cruise ships as well. 

2pm - Alexander Rider

As always Alex amazed our audience with his performance. His skill and passion are really one in a million. Thank you Alex for your coming to perform for us again. We are so grateful for your support. 
​
A harpist, with a passion for the history and lore of his instrument, Alex Rider is much in demand for a wealth of projects both at home and abroad. With interests encompassing period performance to the newest music
Recent highlights of Alex’s work include: orchestral work with the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Aurora Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique, as guest principal of the Operas of Kristiansund and Nordfjoreid (Norway) as a member of Multi-Story Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta academy; solo recitals for the Canterbury, Deal and Stogumber Festivals; Solo concerti in Brighton and Norwich; a Radio 3 broadcast of Takemitsu’s chamber music (as part of the BBC total immersion series); travelling to the Banff centre, Canada, to play for the Canadian premiere of Britten’s opera Owen Wingrave; the world premieres of solo works by Robert Saxton and Simon Holt (at London’s Milton Court), and two consecutive summers performing with the Schleswig Holstein Festival Orchestra (Germany). 
Whilst in Germany Alex made several acclaimed chamber appearances playing works by Mendelssohn, Hoffman and Ravel. During regular trips to Norway, he has also appeared playing Debussy’s Danses, chamber works by Ravel and Jolivet and broadcast on Norwegian radio. 
Alex studied under Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly, and was then a scholarship student of Imogen Barford at the Guildhall school of Music and Drama. He graduated with distinction, and was subsequently honoured with a Guildhall Artists’ fellowship. He was also hugely influenced by regular masterclasses from Willy Postma (Norway) and Helen Sharp (UK). Active in the United Kingdom Harp association, Alex currently edits their magazine, HARP

3pm - Iona Thomas & Cerian Holland

Spectacular! What a way to end our mini concert series! Thank you ladies for your simply stunning performance!

You can find out more about Ioana and Cerian on
​Facebook and Instagram! 

Jazz Cafe 5pm-7pm

What a way to spend a Sunday evening! Members of the UK Jazz Harp Association came to play for us. There was fantastic music, friends, and an altogether spectacular evening. Thank you for your jam session guys it was bliss! 

Programme

12:00 - 13.30 Jazz & Pop Harp Showcase & Wild Strings try out performances
14:00 - 15:00 Come 'n Try the Blues - join and play along for all
15:30 - 16:00 Dirty Laundry Ragathon (playing Park's Dirty Laundry Rag with as many harpists as possible - join in if you know it!)
16:15 - 16:45 Open Mic - present your own song!

17:00 - 19:00 Jazz Café - Jazz Harp Jam Session (in the main marquee)

JAZZ TENT

​We had the Wild Strings Festival Team over to present a taster session for all of you who enjoy jazz & pop on the harp! Come listen, or even play: you can try your hand at the blues, play your own songs at the Open Mic, join the Dirty Laundry Ragathon, or the Jazz Harp Jam Session. 
The full Wild Strings UKHA Jazz & Pop Harp Festival will take place in Manchester, Oct 5-7 - www.wildstrings.co.uk.

2017

​10am - Fran Barsby
11am - Various Friends of Pilgrim Harps
12pm - Keziah Thomas
1pm - Alexander Rider
2pm - Sioned Williams
3pm - Gabriella Dall'Olio
4pm - Jazz Jam Session with London Jazz Harpers

2016

Our best open day yet...

"What a wonderful day today has been, a delightful atmosphere with wonderful Pilgrim Harps et al! The open day was a great success, filled with happy harpists, a wonderful BBQ and endless friendly faces! Thank you all who made it happen and for inviting me to join you! Only the 3rd outing for my brand-new pilgrim electro-acoustic harp, a real treat to play! Thanks Fran for your brilliant jam session files too!"
Shelley Fairplay
Programme:
Anna Blumire kicked-off proceedings playing her Pilgrim ‘Canterbury’ Concert Harp. Anna is currently studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Val Aldrich-Smith and she played for us music by Debussy, Bach and Massenet. The audience were also treated to an insight into how a pedal harp works and what the pedals are for.

Next up was Merlynna Johnson from the Isle of Wight. After hearing the concert harp it was wonderful to be able to hear and compare a specialist Celtic harpist. Merlynna’s repertoire is very varied from old English to Spanish, Scottish, Irish and Welsh plus Classical and Pop. We were treated to a sample of many of these styles as she filled in with little anecdotes about each piece and a few words also about the forthcoming I.O.W. Harp Festival in October.

Shelley Fairplay provided a further dimension performing on her new Pilgrim electro-acoustic ‘Malvern’ Pedal Harp that she had commissioned from us very recently. Her playing was so dazzling and exciting and it was fascinating to see how she combined the use of loop and special effects pedals to build up many layers of sound. Shelley is based mainly in Wales so we were especially grateful that she had travelled over to be with us on the big day.

Lizzy Peacock played next for us demonstrating as always her charming and exquisite style of performance. After spending the last few years playing in Hong Kong we were delighted to see her back here in the UK. One of the joys of our Open Days are the ‘extra’ performances that always seem to get included over and above the advertised schedule and this was another of those special treats.

Meredith McCrindle was the last of our soloists and she showed no signs of fatigue having flown down from Edinburgh the same morning! Meredith is one of Scotland’s principal solo musicians and is widely known as an exceptionally versatile harpist so it was such a privilege to hear her play. Meredith held the audience in the palm of her hand; it was breathtaking for instance, to see how she part improvised a varied medley of music into one stunning piece.

Our very own Fran Barsby rounded off the entertainment. With her endless enthusiasm and energy, she superbly orchestrated all the days performers together on one stage for a fantastic final jam session. Their combined talents delighted us all with everything from Cold Play, Tchaikovsky and Adele to Game of Thrones and Beyonce. It’s hard to imagine a more entertaining way to finish off a perfect day.

2015
"A truly inspirational day!"- Hattie Webb 
"The open day was great I loved the sparkly harps. I enjoyed listening to Fran and her friends play the harp." 
Willow Aged 5 (Open Day 2015)
"It was wonderful to see the variety of harps. We were made to feel very welcome and Willow felt comfortable playing the harps on display and asking questions to the staff. We hope to see you all again soon." Emily (Open Day 2015)

Programme
10am - Workshops opened - Concert by Fran Barsby, interactive greatness! It was great to get requests as unique as High School Musical from the audience and hear Fran improvise them away to inspire the young students in the audience. A collection of students pieces played to inspire! A great concert. 
11am - The stupendous Keziah Thomas played a fantastic set of exciting music including inspirational works such as Deborah Henson Conant's Baroque Flamenco. 
12pm - Hattie Webb - If you weren't at this concert you missed a treat, the beautiful combination of a Pilgrim Harp and Hatties voice. Absolutely breathtaking and another fantastic set! 

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