It was a “fine soft day” in Southern Maryland, characteristic of changeable spring. And while authentic, the weather was not perfect for a bustling Celtic Festival. But the Southern Maryland Celtic Society Festival went on. And stalwart harp players came out to share their music with an enthusiastic audience.

Judge Jo Morrison adjudicated the competition, sanctioned by Scottish Harp Society for the first time. She also provided an excellent concert with Port Righ before the competition and a workshop as well. They used the opportunity not only to delight the audience with great tunes but also to educate them on the music, the instruments, and the Celtic nations themselves. Jo also delivered a wonderful workshop – increasing everyone’s Strathspey repertoire by one!

The competition was well attended and the competitors all played very well. Results:

Beginner 1st Place: Marilyn Newman

Novice 1st Place: Donna Bennett

2nd Place: Mary Abbott

Journeyman 1st Place: Caroline Kemper

2nd Place: Mike Connors

Harper of the Day: Mary Abbott

In addition we were very pleased to have this competition selected as a venue to award a Scholarship to Somerset Folk Harp Festival. This scholarship supports an Apprentice Harper to participate in the Festival this summer. The winner of this coveted scholarship was Donna Bennett – although she entered her first competition at the Novice Category, she performed solidly at the Apprentice level.

Also special thank you to our Prizes Sponsor – Virginia Harp Center. All our competitors received incredible prizes in addition to medals and the traditional Southern Maryland etched glass mugs.

This is the first year that this competition is sanctioned by the SCOTTISH HARP SOCIETY OF AMERICA (SHSA). We are excited to have Jo Morrison as our Judge. Jo is nationally known for her evocative interpretation of Scottish and Irish music on the harp. She frequently performs with the Celtic duo, Port Righ, featuring harp and shuttle pipe, the Highland Pipe’s quieter cousin. The duo has performed concerts at locations such as the An Lanntair, Library of Congress, Somerset Harp Festival, the Smithsonian, various Scottish Festivals around the United States and also in Scotland, Ireland, and Germany.

When not performing, Jo teaches privately, in classes and in workshops, and composes and arranges Celtic music for the Celtic harp. She is currently Vice-President for the Washington Area Folk Harp Society and has previously served as Competition Chair and Board Member for the Scottish Harp Society of America. She teaches at Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster, MD and taught at the Ohio Scottish Arts School, the Somerset Harp Festival, and various workshops around the country.

Jo’s musical gifts shine in her solo recordings which will be available at the Harp venue. On her debut album, The Three Musics, A Waulking Tour of Scotland, Christmas Gifts, By Request and Flights of Fantasy. She has published three popular collections of harp arrangements, “The Three Musics of the Celtic Harp”, “The Morrison Scottish Repertoire Book”, and “The Beginning Harper’s Tunebook,” which is rapidly becoming a standard for beginning folk harpers.

Jo is a Certified Music Practitioner providing therapeutic music at the bedside of the ill or dying and. She lives near Westminster, MD, with her husband Wayne and their four African Grey Parrots. She is available for any type of event, gives scholarly lectures on the history, folklore, and music of the Celtic harp and gives Celtic harp lessons privately and at workshops. For more information or to book see her website www.triharpskel.com.

Our Prize Sponsor is the Virginia Harp Center (THANK YOU!)

And we have the special privilege of being selected to award the:

2010 SOMERSET FOLK HARP FESTIVAL SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE awarded to the winner* at the Apprentice level. The recipient will receive a full festival registration package to study harp in the comprehensive Celtic studies track at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival. 2010 marks the 10th year for the Somerset Folk Harp Festival – an exciting, eclectic conference for all folk harp players. Join in the continuing tradition of bringing the harp community together for a festival showcasing the diversity of music, talent and experience of the folk harp world. Whether you want to focus on one style or type of music, solidify some specific skills, or try out something new, the breadth of the 2010 workshop offerings is sure to expand your musical horizon. The vendor and exhibitor mall is a key attraction – allowing participants so see many vendors and loads of products all in a single area!