Steph West

Harp Music Stepping Out from the British Isles

Introduction

A harper, singer and arranger, Steph has a love of dancing rhythms, vivid chords and a free flowing melody. Based in Oxford, you may hear her performing solo, playing in a variety of bands and projects or out for a dance with English ceilidh band Swinging Molly. Steph also teaches and workshops harp and traditional music, and is involved with the Irish and English folk and harp communities in the south east of England.

Steph also does the glamourous end of harp, playing for special events and weddings. Please see www.stephanie-west.co.uk for more details. clarsach or celtic harp is one of the oldest instruments of the British Isles, heard in the courts of Ireland, Scotland and Wales until the 18th century. Once again growing in popularity, this instrument combines the ethereal beauty of the past with the vitality of modern folk music creating a magical sound and magnetic appeal.

Based in Oxford and the Chilterns, Steph plays for concerts and festivals, and is available for weddings and events. She teaches, makes harps (Featherwood Instruments) and plays with a ceilidh band. Please contact her or read the links on the left for further information.-->

You can find Steph online at www.facebook.com/adventureswithmyharp...

Mailing List

News

01/06/2012 - The British Paraorchestra on Channel 4
We had a fun rehearsal last Thursday and Channel 4 came along to meet us. You can see their short piece here: www.channel4.com/news/paraorchestra-tunes-up-for-big-debut

31/05/2012 - Nightshift Reviews Folkweekend: Oxford
Folkweekend: Oxford was a total blast, with amazing gigs in the Old Fire Station and Ashmolean. Nightshift reviewed us and have reminded me of many happy memories - you can read it here.

6/05/2012 - The British Paraorchestra
This year sees the creation of the British Paraorchestra: the UK's first-ever national orchestra for musicians with disabilities. Charles Hazelwood, conductor was inspired to start the orchestra after he discovered his daughter had cerebral palsy. Although fully able in daily life, Steph is proud to take part in this project as someone born with macrodactyly, a congenital hand deformity.The first large-scale performance will be at Orchestra in a Field in Somerset, June 30th - July 1st 2012.
www.paraorchestra.com
www.orchestrainafield.com

4/03/2012 - Superstrings / Bellowhead Commission at team Museum
We had a brilliant time on Sunday with all 120-or-so Superstrings youth players, our 6 folkie soloists and Pete Flood's new commission "Vici". Bellowhead went on to play a cracking set afterwards, with Superstrings joining in for a second encore. Superstrings is a music charity, providing young people living in rural Wiltshire with musical opportunities. www.superstringsclub.co.uk

07/03/2012 - A Shooting Roots Spring Time
We're gearing up again for this festival season, we'll be at Sidmouth - Broadstairs - Towersey - Wallingford. Our next big event is our Tutor Doing Stuff and Training weekend, April 13 - 15th. Get in touch via our website to find out more... www.shootingroots.org

6/10/2011 - Fifth Province Productions
I'm delighted to play for a new show: Journey to the Fifth Province. Mixing spoken work, poetry and music; the show is an inspiring journey to Ireland's mythical fifth province. Read more about my first night out with the team:
fifthprovinceproductions.org.uk/news/blog.html

22/07/2010 - CD Release - Emily Spiers, The Half Moon Lovers
Last December I had the joy of playing for a friend's debut cd and it's now released. Very exciting. For more info and to have a listen, go to:
www.myspace.com/espiers

20/07/2010 - London Irish Harp News in the Irish World
Since September 2009 I've been working on a project to promote Irish harp in London. I've been teaching harp to two Irish music teachers, Colette Keaveney and Sharon Kelly, so that they can support and inspire their harp pupils. We've had a really good year, had a couple of excellent events and now have an excited community of young harp players in London. We even got an article in the Irish World.