Here’s  a  song I wrote for my gorgeous grandson Idris, whose equally marvellous mum is from Louisiana, hence the Cajun swing.........

Upcoming events for 2025

Looks like a year with less travelling – well no trip to Japan – but many lovely musical happenings…..
As an extra to our usual monthly Saturday gatherings of the local branch of the Clarsach Society, I`m running a `Come and try the harp`` session from 12.30 to 1.30pm for complete beginners.

• 25th Jan Holywood Village Hall, New Bridge, Dumfries DG2 0RG

• 22nd February Gordon Memorial Hall (St Ninian`s Church) Whitepark Road, Castle Douglas. DG7 1EX

• 22nd March Holywood Hall

• 26th April Gordon Memorial Hall

We have some harps for hire so do get in touch though my website contact for more info.

I`ve also started a Slow Session for starter instrumentalists and hesitant singers who want to learn more about well known traditional songs. Its on the first Sunday of every month at The George, High St, Moniaive, Thornhill DG3 4HN, but again feel free to get in touch !

March

• I`m returning in March 28th – 30th to the bonny village of Gardenstown (locally known as Gamrie) on the North East coast of Aberdeenshire overlooking the Moray Firth. Along with pocket dynamo that is Irene Watt, I`ll be teaching a varied mix of tunes and a few songs and there will be plenty of time for sessions, chat, dog walking and maybe even (watching) wild water swimming

  More info - nesclarsach@gmail.com

April

• April 11th to 15th, brings the annual gathering that is the Edinburgh International Harp Festival with a wealth of players young and (slightly) older offering a huge range of harping experience. This year I’ll be teaching a course on Scottish music at elementary / intermediate level and also one called Harps in Parts – not a construction lesson but looking at duets, trios, and group arrangements that can also work as solos……

  More info - http://www.harpfestival.co.uk

May

• A more local month with much gardening to catch up on, no doubt, but also full of such delights as the Moniaive Folk Festival May 9th - 11th where I`ll be out and about helping with the young folks events, singing sessions and maybe even doing a spot at the open mic stage.

  See Facebook page for updates.

June

• I`ll be part of a group from our local choir Cairn Chorus, visiting and singing at the Street Choirs Festival ( 13th – 15th) which is held this year in Bradford. We are hosting it in 2026 in Dumfries ( the first time in Scotland!) so are hoping to learn as much as we can!

July

• Our Clarsach Society Branch will be running a ``Come and try the harp`` workshop plus a short afternoon concert at the Newton Stewart and Minigaff Traditional Music and Dance Festival. 11th – 13th July.

  More info - https://www.tradmusic.com

• Though I`m not travelling to Japan this year, we (Galloway Agreement and Tom Pow) are hoping that a group of Japanese actor /musicians will be able to come over during this month to collaborate in a new play written by Tom. Very exciting but, as usual, dependant on funding and a lot of organisation……

august

• August 7th to 10th sees me returning to my annual course and meet up with a great bunch of fellow harpers at Brancepeth Castle, County Durham

  More Info - www.northernharps.co.uk

So I hope to see you somewhere , sometime……..and do keep an eye out for my compilation CD and downloads, with sheet music , which will hopefully be out this year. Spanning the 3 recordings I made with the wonderful Ian Green of Greentrax records, it’s a pick of my favourite tracks, plus the dots. The range is from lower intermediate to advanced but hopefully with something for everyone

About Wendy

Wendy Stewart is a leading Scottish harper, a critically acclaimed, world-class performer who connects with the listener at a deep musical level and a renowned teacher who coaxes the budding musician out of the hesitant beginner.

Her musical commitment is both to make traditional harp accessible to all and to explore her own musical ideas through arrangement and composition.

As a player and singer, she re-interprets traditional material in a historically informed yet refreshing way. Her compositions are melodically sinuous, rooted in the tradition but seeking out the creative.

Wendy's relaxed but incisive style of teaching brings praise and results in equal measure. Through her layered arrangements and measured pace, she can bring a group of mixed ability learners together in confident, relaxed harmony.

Wendy lives in, and draws inspiration from, her rural lifestyle in Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland.

She is very involved with the rich artistic network here from composing commissions reflecting environmental artworks to singing with her community choir Cairn Chorus.

Event Calendar