DHC at Edinburgh Internation Harp Festival 2025

And I made it to Edinburgh!!

The last leg of my Europe Tour is in Edinburgh. As one of the performers and presenters of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, I’m so thrilled to have gone back to this beautiful hilly capital of Scotland.

I took this selfie with these huge letters as soon as I got off the train and this is such an amazing moment to capture. 

Meeting Dearest Harp Friends!

My first night in Edinburgh I got to meet with two of my oldest and dearest Harp Friends: Mary Macmaster and Patsy Seddon. The very first time I ever saw an electric harp, they were playing CAMAC Electroharps in a Celtic Rock concert at Queeen’s Hall. I will never forget that moment – two electric harps – two powerful players – in a ROCK band. Suddenly a whole new world opened up for me.

That moment was my first introduction to the CAMAC harp company, to the possibility of a harp that could soar over drums and electric guitars (and so, surely over the brass section of an orchestra, too!). In one moment a whole new world opened up. The only thing missing was to be able to WEAR it. And I tried EVERYTHING I could think of to try to strap those harps on … mind you, they weighed about 40 pounds and were twice as big as my harp – I must have looked a kangaroo trying to carry a baby elephant around.

But it wasn’t just the harps – they sang, they were funny — all the things I thought I ‘shouldn’t be’ as a harpist (funny, irreverent) or couldn’t be (loud, taken seriously AND singing) – they WERE. They were just being themselves – but to me, they were a revolution.

English and French Breakfast

My first breakfast in Edinburgh – tea, toast, and jam … the PERFECT breakfast for today. It’s a bigger deal than you’d think. I got to the flat late and was too lazy in the morning to climb down the 3 flights of stone steps and find a store … BUT … I had cleverly purchased bread in FRANCE last week – and yes, my friends, thanks to my habit of always having Tupperware, I still had two slices with me. So this little meal meant a lot.

Mostly it meant I’m not an idiot for carrying around Tupperware containers of bread from country to country. Well, it meant that to me.

Compare the toast and tea with my French breakfast of croissants and tea. Hmmm … I see a theme here.

Edinburgh ‘Street Attractions’

As I was walking near Waverly Station in Edinburgh – this industrious dog combined cuteness with a simple request anyone could understand. I’m not exactly sure how he’s planning to eat the coins, but he seems to have an assistant close by who I’m sure will help.

Edinburgh Harp Festival

My long-anticipated return to the Edinburgh Harp Festival was a huge success! I’m truly honored to perform at the festival’s opening concert in front of a very enthusiastic audience.

See the video below of my performance posted by the Edinburgh International Harp Festival on Facebook!

I’m also grateful for these photos that the Telynau Vining Harps have posted from the festival and in the workshops. Check them out below!

Playing With Fire!

I have witnessed such an amazing performance of people playing with fire and that made me realize how I play with fire myself – by performing Baroque Flamenco – this piece brings fiery spirits and blazing enthusiasm both from the player and the audience.

Watch the video below that I posted on Facebook!

Harpists Who Dare

Ready to liberate yourself from the notes on the page?