SUMMER SCHOOL OF EARLY IRISH HARP
STUDENT FEEDBACK
Opinions and comments from Scoil 2013
I got a lot of impressions and knowledge. It was really very high level and beautiful and at the same time very family like! Congratulations!
- Christian Schneider, Austria
I thoroughly enjoyed my week at the scoil.
- Kay Finn, Ireland
I would like to thank you again for everything, by which I mean the the extraordinary fullness and quality of every aspect of the course, the astonishing standard of all the tutors’ playing ... and perhaps most of all the warmth of the welcome and support I received.
- Bob Dresner, England
...remember all the wonderful things. Thank you everybody for making it possible. Siobhan, Ann, Simon, Andrew, Natalia and Sylvia for organizing and each and every student. I had a great time. Can't wait for next year!
- Barbara Karlik, Poland
Thank you very much for your teaching and warm hospitality during the summer school 2013.
- Hitomi Kanayama, Japan
Thank you, Ann, Siobhán, Andrew, and everyone who contributed to another week so full of material with which to continue the unfolding understanding.
- Jane Carter, England
Were you involved with Scoil na gCláirseach 2013? If so, why not send us your opinions!
FROM 2012...
The thing that I love about Scoil is that everyone there is treated as a scholar, not “just” a player. The attitude from the tutoring staff that comes through loud and clear for me is that when there is so little hard information about an instrument that has been resurrected from the dead, every player should be a scholar, and every player, at any level, can make his/her own valid discoveries about what works on the instrument and what doesn’t seem to. ... It really is a great experience that you can't get anywhere else.
- Cindy Schaufenbuel, USA
Thank you for a wonderful week in Kilkenny.
- Julie Rokseth, Norway
... thank you very much for having given me the opportunity to [take part] in your most ... wonderful Irish harp lessons and lectures. Believe me, it is priceless to have been in classes with such knowledgeable teachers and great musicians like yourself, Ann, Andrew, Simon, and the rest of the whole team. I felt I learned very much during the short period at your classes.
- Victoria Dehesa, USA
FROM 2011...
Scoil was fascinating...heaven times two
- Barbara Karlik (Poland)
The scoil was really great this year...
- Brendan Ring (France)
I got more from Kilkenny than ever this time.
- Neil Hudson (Derby, England)
I am digesting all the riches of information,inspiration and encouragement as I continue to practise and study
- Jane Carter (Cornwall, England)
FROM 2010...
... the Scoil was a great inspiration, thank you for everything.
- Katrine Kristiansen (Norway)
What a delight to spend a week among the world's leading scholars and performers on the Irish harp!
- Karen Loomis (USA)
... an intense week of fascinating lectures, demanding practical lessons and wonderful concerts. The best place to be! Oh, and the people are absolutely wonderful!
- Barbara Karlik (Poland)
FROM 2009...
There were days when the fog was clinging to the river Nore as I crossed the bridge and passed the castle on the way to the Kilkenny School of Music, and I had to pinch myself to be certain that I wasn’t dreaming. more...
- Sue Phillips (USA)
Thanks again for an absolutely fantastic experience at the scoil this year.
- Whitney Dobyns (USA)
FROM 2008...
...it was a fantastic, intense and interesting course. I quite liked the idea of showing us how to interpret manuscripts and make our own arrangement... I think its really helpful. I also enoyed very much all lectures, concerts, and company of nice people around!
- Vicente la Camera (Spain)
FROM 2007...
Thank you so much for a wonderful summer school. I cannot applaud your efforts enough to bring back this most noble of instruments and its music.
-Rhona Ní Fhógartaigh (Dublin)
...my fourth time at school and for me personally it was the best one yet...
- John-Paul Patton (Belfast)
A week of pure magic, enriching on every level, the tuitions and tutors are magnificent. I learned so much...
- Brendan Ring (France)
Aside from the brilliant lectures/seminars and technique classes and tutor concerts, each amazing in their own way, the people the Scoil seems to attract are just grand to meet and spend time with. Not to mention the food at lunch and tea time and the pub sessions after.
- Brenda Malloy (Dublin)
I now am the proud renter of an HHSI Student Downhill harp and loving every minute of it...
- Eibhlín Ní Hír (Connemara)
Just to say that I really enjoyed the Scoil this year... it was very intense! now I need a whole year to digest all the new stuff that we learnt over that week... it's the best harp course!
- Vicente la Camera (Gran Canaria, Spain)
Just writing to thank you for all your hard work making Scoil na gCláirseach happen for us all again this year. It is really top notch! I've returned home with so many great 'projects' to work on. And what wonderful people to spend the week with - both teachers and students ... Anyway, I'm already looking forward to Scoil 2008!
- Karen Loomis (USA)
FROM 2006...
It was a wonderful time!
- Karen Loomis (USA)
I'd just like to tell you how much I enjoyed the Scoil and how much I appreciate all your work in organising and keeping the event running ... the music was fantastic and the classes outstanding. I have about 10 years work to use eveything!
- Neil Hudson (Derby, England)
It was an amazing experience and by far the most in-depth instruction I've been able to have. Intense and immeasurably rewarding. I'll definitely be going back as often as I can. Thanks to Siobahn, Ann, Javier, Simon and all the rest who made it such a rewarding experience.
- Robert Kirkpatrick (USA)
... It was and it will be, the best harp course! See you all next summer and thank you Siobhán, Ann, Javier, and Simon...as well as all the good people I met over the scoil...
- Vicente La Camera (Gran Canaria, Spain)
Every tutor at the school was a surprise and a delight
- Gwen Knighton (USA / London, England)
...of course the scoil was its usual intense choc-o-bloc of lessons, lectures and lunches to die for...
- John-Paul Patton (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
I'm looking forward to another summer at the Scoil someday... it was fabulous!
- Beth Richard (Texas, USA)
What a marvelous experience Scoil was... fabulous instructors, wonderful musicians, awesome food... and the list goes on and on...
- Debi Rogers (USA)
I had to pinch myself every morning when I was walking down a street in Ireland with my harp on my shoulder and arriving at a class full of wonderful people and being taught by the very people that I have only dreamed about ever meeting!
- Colleen Politi (Arizona, USA)
...I think I'll meet you all at the Scoil na gClairseach 2007 - because this is the best harp workshop ever...
- Barbara Karlik (Poland)
FROM 2005...
c'est surtout à vous que je souhaite envoyer un énorme merci, pour m'avoir fait découvrir cette petite merveille qu'est l'ancienne harpe d'Irlande.
I'd like to say a enormous thank you for having made me discover that little miracle which is the early Irish harp.
- Lara Serviolle (France)
It was a privilege to see and hear the wonderful musicianship of Siobhán, Paul, Javier and Ann, in no particular order, on the ancient (now modern) wire strung harp of our country, which adorns each coin of our national currency. Simon's administration of events, timetables etc., was impeccable and it was good to meet so many nice people from Ireland and abroad who are studying the wire-strung harp.
- Séamus Mac Seáin (Ireland)
It was such a wonderful week and I have to start saving now for next year. I cannot do without going to this event, it was the perfect event for me.
- Jacqueline Lynaugh (California, USA)
It was a real honour as a beginner to be educated by the best in the world and this goes for the quality of the lectures given as well as the practical instruction... hearing Ann's research into strings and the use of gold gave a real sense of being part of something wonderful and cutting edge, as did getting to see and play the excellent Trinity replicas provided by the school for students.
- John-Paul Patton (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
I am still totally in love with my Trinity replica I bought over in Kilkenny. We will come back....
-Astrid Adler (Clare, Ireland)
I'd a really fantastic few days down in Kilkenny, thanks so much to Siobhán, Javier, Anne and Simon! Such a good time that I don't want to have to wait until next summer for more of the same...
- N.T. (Dublin, Ireland)
Thank you so much for such a packed and truly exciting week of harp events!
- Jade Hamilton (England)
it was a great few days in Kilkenny. I'm still buzzing
- Mícheál Ó Catháin (Ireland)
My head is full of information and I feel that I know more about the early Gaelic harp than I ever did, but I also know, that it's not even one tenth of what we would like to know...
- Barbara Karlik (Poland)
...the Scoil was really special. I want to thank you for your excellent work in organising the Scoil and making the wire-strung harp accessible to me and others with a similar passion
- Martin Casey (Ireland)
Thank you for a fantastic week in Kilkenny. It was a time of learning and inspiration, not just for me but for all of us.
- Paul Best (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Honestly, the lessons, the music, the food, the laughs, the atmosphere, the pure pleasure in being there are still with me. I had a great time!
- Róisín Allen (Ireland)
FROM 2004...
Scoil na gCláirseach was one of the most magical and inspiring workshops I have ever been to... Having been introduced to the sweetness of the Irish wire-strung harp only last autumn, I was very excited about the event taking place at home here in Ireland and I had very high hopes. I was not disappointed!
Read a student's report on
Scoil na gCláirseach 2004
I should have written before now to thank you for everything: It was truly inspiring!
- Harriet Grindley (Scotland)
All in all, I had one great time in the SE part of Ireland; made many new friends...You have a loyal appreciative fan on the Pacific North West of the USA.
- Barbara Leary (Seattle, USA)
I've come back with pleasure for the second consecutive year in Scoil na gCláirseach. This experience has enriched my knowledge of the Wire-Strung Harp's practice a lot. I thank you all for the hearty reception given me and the warm hospitality offered me as well and in particular I want to thank teachers Siobhan, Ann and Bill, who always were very patient and careful with me. See you soon next year!
- Silvano Betelli (Italy)
I really enjoyed the summer school. I would love to return to Ireland and spend my time for this beautiful instrument.
- Naoto Kuwahara (Japan)
Well done to you for organising such a successful week, it was super inspiring and I loved it very much.
- Róisín Allen (Ireland)
I have a LOT of material to work on. I also liked your arrangements of "Da Mihi Manum" and "Carolan's Farewell to Music" ... Many thanks!
- Paul Best (Northern Ireland)
AND FROM 2003...
Bia, Ól, Craic agus Ceol!
Any event starting with free wine a-plenty is bound to create an expectation and this one lived up to it. Before I knew it, I was plunged into a five-day series of classes and lectures along with a lot of lovely people I'd never met before and who seemed just as lovely by the end of the week...
Read a student's report on Scoil na gCláirseach 2003
I had a marvellous time there, it was really inspiring studying with Ann and Siobhán and all the other students were super too. It was also great to have the history lectures and viewing the old harps as part of the course, really put it in context.
- Simon Chadwick (England)
... the harp school was I think for everyone a great experience. I went as a beginner and was deeply honoured to receive lessons from such excellent players. It was also great to meet people with a shared interest and the teacher's concert was pure magic!
- John-Paul Patton (Northern Ireland)
... just thanks, thanks, thanks for a great exciting week...Just thought I'd let you know what a great job you did in organizing the wire harp course, running it, cooking so wonderfully etc etc. It was really lovely to meet you and thanks for a great 5 days. Thanks too for all the other kind things you did that made the course/stay so good. I learnt loads and would love to continue learning how to play this gorgeous harp.
- Ruth Wall (England)
Thanks for arranging the school for us. I thought you were both great tutors.
- Graham Steele (England)
Flora had a great time at the event and still talks about her experiences daily. A lot is owed to the fact that everyone there talked to her freely and made her feel at home being the only child on the school. Marie and I thank you and the other participants for being thoughtful and considerate in this way. We hope to see you all again in the near future.
- Mark & Marie Bramwell (Scotland)
I'm writing now to thank you again for everything you have done for me! I enjoyed the summer school very much! It was very interesting to meet you and Ann, and all the others of course!
- Anastasia Razvalyaeva (Hungary)
I've been meaning to write to you to thank you for a great week. I'm already looking forward to next year and YES I'm still practising.
- Maura Uí Chroinín (Ireland)