Spring is zorching past and summer will start soon. I hope you will find a harp event that is near and dear to you in which to participate. And I’d like to suggest that you participate in the Ohio Scottish Arts School – it’s my favorite summer camp!
You might think that of course I would push OSAS since I have the joy of teaching there, but you’d be wrong! I push OSAS because it changed my life!
I cannot state that emphatically enough. Literally impacted me so much as to have changed the trajectory of my life. Between expanding my technical ability and steeping me in the tradition, OSAS has always been the tractor beam of my harp life. It is there that I have made lifelong friends, learned to dance, laughed until I cried (and cried until I laughed), eaten too many cookies, sat at the knees of icons of the harp, learned to appreciate stellar musicians of multiple instruments, learned tunes, taught tunes, and been awakened by the pipes year after year.
I look forward to attending all year. I plan what I want to hang on my door, what to pack, how to load the car. I excitedly await time with friends I only get to see while I’m in Ohio. I imagine the new people I’ll meet and look forward to the tunes we’ll play together – all harps or collections of harp, fiddle, small pipes, and songs.
Simply – I love it!
In case you were wondering, trad harps are all invited – whether your harp is nylon, fluorocarbon, gut, wire, horsehair – all are welcome (ok, not pedal – but that’s not a trad instrument!).
This year, OSAS will run June 27 – July 3! Registration is open through May 29, 2026 (although it may close before that if the class fills). Here’s a link to the form: Registration Information page
Our harp instructors this year are an exciting group, and each brings incredible chops! We have the amazing and well-known Sharon Knowles and Jo Morrison joined by up-and-comers Stephanie Claussen and Rhiannon Skye! Their bios are available on the website.
And we’re fortunate to also have fiddle instructors Mari Black and Elke Baker – so bring your fiddle friends!
Separately, but definitely related, Tiffany Schaefer continues to coordinate an excellent and well-run competition at the Ohio Scottish Games on Saturday 26 June – a fitting start to the week. Come out to compete or to cheer for the competitors and to show support for the harp at the Games. Preregister on their website: https://ohioscottishgames.com/games/harp
We have full days of music, music, music. It really is immersion – in the best possible way. If you have questions or want more information, check the website, or send me an email!