Rachel Hair
Encyclopedia
Rachel Hair is folk
harp
ist from Scotland
. Of mixed Scots-Irish parentage, she was born and brought up in the village of Ullapool
. She studied music at the University of Strathclyde
where she gained a first class honors degree.
She released her debut harp album, "Hubcaps and Potholes", in 2006, and has performed at many festivals including Celtic Connections
and the Edinburgh Fringe
.
"One of the UK's finest contemporary Celtic harpists and tunesmiths" (Songlines), Rachel Hair performs a spellbinding mix of Scottish, Irish and original harp music together with fellow musicians Jenn Butterworth (guitar/vocals) and Euan Burton (double bass).
Drawing inspiration from the hothouse that is Scotland's diverse music scene, the group's arrangements breathe passion, emotion and energy into traditional and contemporary tunes and songs, the result of which is quite simply sheer joy and irresistible fun.
Rachel, from the Highland village of Ullapool, is renowned for her bright and bubbly approach to the Scottish harp. A first class Honours graduate in music from Glasgow's University of Strathclyde, and recipient of the Sir Alexander Stone Award for excellence in performance, her two highly commended albums Hubcaps and Potholes and The Lucky Smile showcase the oldest of Scottish instruments in a new, inspired light.
"Hair has that uncanny knack of picking just the right tunes to take her audience on a spectacular acoustic musical tour."
Folk and Roots
As well as performing Rachel is a highly experienced, and much sought after freelance tutor of the harp with many of her students gaining 1sts at local and National Gaelic Mods and All Scotland and All Britain Irish Music Fleadhs. Regularly tutoring for organistations including Feisean Nan Gaidheal, Feis Rois (Scottish Gaelic Music), Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Irish music) and Glasgow's own Celtic Connections, she is currently the harp tutor at Douglas Academy, one of Scotland's four specialist schools for excellence in music. Rachel frequently travels far and wide to countries which have included France (Rencontres de la harpe Celtique in Brittany festival), Germany (Harfentreffen Harp festival), Switzerland (Celtic Days Harp Festival) , Finland, Denmark, the USA and India, to teach not only Scottish/Irish Harp but general traditional/Celtic Music and Groupwork. She teaches using the traditional "by-ear" method with a strong emphasis on fun and enjoyment. She has also lectured in Scottish and Irish Traditional music at Universities in both America and Scotland.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Of mixed Scots-Irish parentage, she was born and brought up in the village of Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
. She studied music at the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
where she gained a first class honors degree.
She released her debut harp album, "Hubcaps and Potholes", in 2006, and has performed at many festivals including Celtic Connections
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
and the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
.
"One of the UK's finest contemporary Celtic harpists and tunesmiths" (Songlines), Rachel Hair performs a spellbinding mix of Scottish, Irish and original harp music together with fellow musicians Jenn Butterworth (guitar/vocals) and Euan Burton (double bass).
Drawing inspiration from the hothouse that is Scotland's diverse music scene, the group's arrangements breathe passion, emotion and energy into traditional and contemporary tunes and songs, the result of which is quite simply sheer joy and irresistible fun.
Rachel, from the Highland village of Ullapool, is renowned for her bright and bubbly approach to the Scottish harp. A first class Honours graduate in music from Glasgow's University of Strathclyde, and recipient of the Sir Alexander Stone Award for excellence in performance, her two highly commended albums Hubcaps and Potholes and The Lucky Smile showcase the oldest of Scottish instruments in a new, inspired light.
"Hair has that uncanny knack of picking just the right tunes to take her audience on a spectacular acoustic musical tour."
Folk and Roots
As well as performing Rachel is a highly experienced, and much sought after freelance tutor of the harp with many of her students gaining 1sts at local and National Gaelic Mods and All Scotland and All Britain Irish Music Fleadhs. Regularly tutoring for organistations including Feisean Nan Gaidheal, Feis Rois (Scottish Gaelic Music), Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Irish music) and Glasgow's own Celtic Connections, she is currently the harp tutor at Douglas Academy, one of Scotland's four specialist schools for excellence in music. Rachel frequently travels far and wide to countries which have included France (Rencontres de la harpe Celtique in Brittany festival), Germany (Harfentreffen Harp festival), Switzerland (Celtic Days Harp Festival) , Finland, Denmark, the USA and India, to teach not only Scottish/Irish Harp but general traditional/Celtic Music and Groupwork. She teaches using the traditional "by-ear" method with a strong emphasis on fun and enjoyment. She has also lectured in Scottish and Irish Traditional music at Universities in both America and Scotland.