The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc.
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101
Web: www.harpsocietywa.org.au
Email: harpsocietywa@gmail.com
Phone: 0427 217 664
Newsletter ~ November
Issue 4 of 2015
RIVERLANDS
MONTESSORI
SCHOOL’S MEDIEVAL FAIR
On the 24th of October the Harp Society played for
the Riverland's Montessori School’s Medieval Fair
in Dayton. A new event for Riverland’s Montessori
school, it was well attended with lots of different
performances and talents on display. Everyone
had loads of fun.
The Harp Society was well represented with nine
harpists ~ Catherine Ashley, Shamara di Tissera,
Merilyn Hewson, Alana Levingston, Jane McCabe,
Claire Morley, Pam Pougnault, Helen Punch and
Ella Scott. We also had two drummers Liam
Levingston and Henri Pougnault, in attendance.
With a reparatory of thirteen songs, played in two
separate
sessions,
everyone
enjoyed
the
performance. We also had a solo performance
played by Alana Levingston while
everyone
enjoyed having Devonshire Tea in the main hall
with yummy scones, jam and
cream.
Everyone dressed up in the spirit
on the Medieval theme with many
varied and amazing outfits worn
by all.
A BIG thank you to everyone who
contributed to making this Harp
Society representation such a
great success.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
This month’s Harpist Profile
Alice Giles ............................... 2
Harp West News
Mater Class with Alice Giles ... 4
News from the South West ..... 4
News from the Great Southern
................................................. 4
Harp Bench ............................. 5
Harp West Notices
Upcoming Events.................... 7
Harp West Public Notices
Upcoming Concerts
Harp Teachers in WA ............. 8
Harp West Public Notices....... 9
Harp West Calendar or events
................................................. 10
Committee and address details
................................................. 11
DATES TO REMEMBER!!!
 Next event Christmas Carols
6th December 2015
 Next Harp Society Gathering
13th March 2016
 Next WA Youth Harp Festival
18th June 2016
 Next Committee Meeting
30th January 2016
The most intelligent, sensitive and
technically accomplished harpist I have
ever met. – LUCIANO BERIO
Alice Giles has been celebrated as one of
the world’s leading harp soloists. The
Australian born musician first attracted
international notice when she won First
Prize in the 8th Israel International Harp
Contest at the age of 21. Since then she
has performed extensively both in recital
and with orchestras in Europe, America,
Australia, and Israel. She presented her
first solo recital at the age of 13 at the
Sydney Conservatorium of Music, was
awarded
the
coveted
Churchill
International Fellowship and an Australia
Council Grant to study in the USA and
made her New York debut recital at Merkin Hall in 1983.
Regarded by Luciano Berio as the foremost interpreter of his Sequenza II, she
has taken part in tributes to Berio at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London, Salzburg
Mozarteum, and at the 92nd Street Y in New York to honour his 70th birthday.
She has given many premiere performances for her instrument, has
commissioned a complete program of new works for the electro-acoustic harp,
and is Artistic Director of the Seven Harp Ensemble (SHE), which has
commissioned many new works by Australian composers.
She has been a guest artist at numerous festivals, including the Bath Mozartfest,
Scotia Festival, Schleswig-Holstein, Insel Hombroich and ‘Ja, Musik!’ Festivals
in Germany, Salzedo Centennial in Austin, Texas,
World Harp Congresses in Copenhagen and Vancouver, World Harp Festival in
Cardiff, the Edinburgh Harp Festival Australian Festival of Chamber Music,
Barossa and Coriole Festivals, Huntington Festival, Adelaide and Sydney
Festivals and was invited by Rudolf Serkin to participate for three summers in
the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, USA.
Concert highlights include solo recitals in London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s
92nd Street Y and Merkin Hall, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Gulbenkian Foundation in
Lisbon, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Toronto, and concertos
with the Israel Philharmonic, Collegium Musicum Zürich, Badische Staatskapelle
Karlsruhe, the English Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Concert Orchestra,
Mainzer Kammerorchester and Hamburg Mozart Orchestra, Ohio Chmaber
Orchestra, Taiwan Symphony, Israel Chamber Orchestra and regularly with all
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
the major Australian Symphony and Chamber
Orchestras. Alice Giles has worked with
conductors David Porcelijn, Muhai Tang, Michael
Christie, Marcus Stenz, Mark Elder, Jahja Ling,
Tuomas Ollila, Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Ola
Rudner, Roderick Brydon, Günter Neuhold,
Hiroyuki Iwaki, Henry Krips, Ronald Zollman,
Werner Andreas Albert among others. Alice Giles
performs regularly with all the major Australian
Symphony and Chamber orchestras.
Chamber music ensemble partners include the
Duo Corda with her husband Arnan Wiesel on
piano, the Australia Ensemble, the Melos Quartet,
Thomas Zehetmair, Jenny Abel, Andrea
Lieberknecht, Geoffrey Collins, David Pereira and
many others.
Alice Giles has an international reputation as a teacher, having given master classes
in the Salzburg Mozarteum, the Conservatorium in The Hague, Royal Academy
London, Cleveland Institute, the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute, Conservatorio
G. Verdi Milano, Parma Conservatorio, Glenn Gould School Toronto, Detmold
Hochschule, R. Schumann Hochschule and at the International Youth Festival in
Bayreuth. From 1990 to 1998 she taught at the Hochschüle für Musik in Frankfurt,
and was Associate Professor and Head of Harp Area at the ANU School of Music,
Australia until 2012. She now teaches at the Sydney Conservatorioum of Music and
the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne.
Her annual summer course is now held in Kioloa NSW. She was on the jury for the
1998 and 2009 International Harp Contest in Israel, the 2004 USA International
Harp Competition 2007, V. Salvi European Harp Competition Cardiff and the IX
Concourso Nationale d’Arpa ‘Victor Salvi’. Her two main teachers were June Loney
(Sydney Symphony Orchestra) and Alice Chalifoux (Cleveland Orchestra), also
studying with Lydia Shaxson and Judith Liber. She is
founder and director of the Harp Centre Australia, a
not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting
the harp in Australia.
Her discography includes three solo harp discs, a
concerto disc with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra,
conductor David Porcelijn, and many chamber music
discs – among others as Duo Corda, with the
Budapest Brass Quintet, with flutist Geoffrey Collins,
the Marlboro Recording Society, and the Kunstpfeifer
Martin Werner – for the KOCH, Musikado, ABC
Classics, Tall Poppies, Art Works, CDI (Israel) and
TMK labels.
Below is a link to Alice's trip to Antarctica:
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-us/
publications/australian-antarctic-magazine/20112015/issue-20-2011/antarctic-outreach/a-harp-inthe-south
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR A HARP LESSON WITH
The WA Harp Society is proud to have Alice Giles as its resident harp teacher for the April
ANZAC weekend Harp Camp commencing Saturday 23 April and concluding Monday 25
April 2016.
Before the camp we are thrilled to advise that Alice has offered, opportunities for one-on-one
harp lesson. This will be a unique opportunity to hear the thoughts on technique, musicality
and approaches in learning from a skilled expert in the field. It will also be a great way of
learning and gaining inspiration for your own personal development.
The date for harp lessons with Alice will be Friday, 22
April and the cost will be $100/hour - venue will be
Jane McCabe’s house in Belmont.
Places are limited so if you would like to take
advantage of this opportunity please contact Helen
on 0427 217 664 or 9720 2871, alternatively via email
harpsocietywa@gmail.com closing date for
Expressions of Interest is 1st December 2015 .
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH WEST
Healing Music continues to be pr ovided at Solar is Car e & St Joh n of God
Hospital in Bunbury, & also more recently, in Hocart Retirement Lodge in Harvey.
The South West Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing on Saturday December 5th at St
Aidans Winery in the Ferguson Valley. This is a big event for the area, contact the winery for
bookings.
NEWS FROM THE GREAT SOUTHERN REGION
There will be a visit from Liza Jensen, Camac technician & Harpist from New York, in March
2016.This regulation/workshop will be held in Albany. Contact Christine Jones for further
info on this : christinejones47@gmail.com
The Albany Eisteddfod has announced the introduction of a new category just for Harpists
into it's event in May 2016.A very exciting first for student Harpists in Albany, presenting a
great opportunity.
Christine has a new Camac "Isolde" arriving next month for sale, Walnut colour.
Upcoming events for February 2016: ( Metro area )
The group of Harpists who meet at Terry Scott's home on Sunday afternoons, (when she's in
Perth) are preparing for a small concert in early February 2016.
The Harpists are mainly from the Metro area,& led by Terry, are Fred, Neil, Ella, Jill, Peta,
Jenny, Merilyn (Harvey) They will be joined by Pamela, an expat currently living in the UK
but visiting for a few months.
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
As a service to the subscribers of this newsletter,
Brandden Lassells of Harps and Harps will answer
questions you may have pertaining to the making,
maintenance or repair of harps.
I will cover care for your harp including strings for
antique and other early harps.
Perhaps the first consideration is where you will be
keeping your harp. Your harp should not be kept near
a window, in direct sunlight nor should it be in the
airflow from heating, air conditioning ducts or other
drafts. When not being played, an extra safety
precaution is to place your harp in a corner or
backing up against something stable so that animals,
small children and others are less likely to tip your
harp over if it gets bumped. A note here to cat
owners; cats like to climb harp covers and can topple your harp, so I do not
recommend leaving a cover on if cats are in the vicinity. In fact I do not suggest
leaving your harp covered when in your home as it is a beautiful instrument to
look at and if it is ready to be played there is a greater likelihood that you will sit
down and play it.
Harps are happiest in an environment of between 40 and 50% relative humidity.
Extreme dry air can dry out and shrink the wood and open up joins. Likewise,
NEVER leave your harp in a parked car even for a short period of time as the
temperature inside a car can build up and soften glues used in the assembly of
your harp. The damage may not be apparent until sometime in the future but
this high heat can unduly stress your harp.
It is always a good idea to cover your harp with a padded cover when moving and
transporting it. This is the time when most knocks occur as it is very easy to
bump into a door or car opening when transporting your harp. A padded cover
will minimise the damage from any knock.
Before sitting down to play your harp it is a good idea to wash your hands. Make
sure that you are not wearing any clothing with sequins, buckles etc. and remove
any bracelets, watches, pins, dangling ear rings and other items that could
scratch your harp. Wiping down the strings with a clean soft cloth after playing
each time is a good practice. Use a soft clean and dust free cloth to keep your
harp clean (a micro fibre cloth is excellent). A soft brush can be helpful to keep
the areas around tuning pins, discs and levers dust free. Any stubborn
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
accumulation such as from perspiring arms on the edge of the soundboard can be
removed with a moistened soft cloth and then wiped dry. Generally you should
not need to wax your harps finish. If you do want to wax your harp use hard,
silicon free paste wax and definitely do not use wood cleaners or conditioners
that contain lemon or orange oil as these can soften the polish and the oils can
seep into minor cracks making any future repair difficult.
Your harp is best kept in a fairly constant temperature and humidity. The old
saying is true in that if you or a baby would be comfortable so will your harp.
Always tune your harp with the strings in the open position. The open position is
in the flat position, all pedals up for a pedal harp and no levers engaged for a
lever harp. It is also a good idea to leave your harp with open strings when not
playing your harp as it creates less stress on all the parts.
Lastly for those who have antique or early harps I can not stress enough the
importance of using the proper gauge strings. I see many early and antique
harps that have been severely damaged by using modern harp strings. Any harp
pre 1935 including early L&H, Wurlitzer, late Browne’s etc. plus all the antique
Erard, Erat etc harps need special attention to the strings used. Please care for
your early harp by seeking advice on the proper strings for your harp.
Replace any broken strings with the correct type and gauge as soon as possible to
keep the stress on the harp as constant as possible. It is important to keep your
harp in tune, the more you keep it in tune the more it will stay in tune.
Questions and comments for future “Harp Workbench” column of this newsletter
can be addressed to the editor, No Helen Punch or to Brandden.
Brandden Lassells is the proprietor of Harps and Harps in West Gosford NSW.
In addition to making all types of harps and being a dealer for Dusty Strings,
Triplett, Rees, Heartland and Camac Pedal and Lever Harps, Brandden
specialises in the repair and restoration of harps. Brandden can be contacted on
02 4324 3100 or through his website www.harps.com.au
Harps and Harps have Australia’s largest collection of folk harps on display ready
for you. Please “Like” Harps and Harps on Facebook www.facebook.com/
harps.and.harps
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
Time and venue TBC,
but likely to be
11am on 6th December 2015
in Fremantle.
Music, confirmation of venue and time,
will be emailed out to members soon
The next Harp Society committee meeting will be held on the 30th January 2016 at
Yvonne’s House ~ 3 pm
Sarah Bowman is organising for Jason, to come to Perth for harp regulation in February
2016 – date to be confirmed. If anyone is interested in having their harp regulated to contact
Helen Punch harpsocietywa@gmail.com and she will pass on their details to Sarah
The next Harp Society Gathering is on 13th March 2016
at 1.45 pm at the Leisu r eFit Melville (for m er ly
Melville Recreation Centre) Corner Canning Highway &
Stock Road. We are planning an Irish St Paddy's theme
so don’t miss it is should be heaps of fun!!
If you have any suggestions of new or old repertoire for
the group to play please email:harpsocietywa@gmail.com
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
Catherine Ashley
2nd November 8pm Including w or ks by C.P.E. B ach , Pescetti,
J.S. Bach/Grandjany and Rota. Calloway Music Auditorium, UWA.



8th Nov, 3pm Cath er ine Ash ley and Aria Quintet. Perform ing
a variety of music including Debussy's "Danse Sacree et Danse
Profane". Church of the Reserection, Swanbourne
13th November, 1pm Cath er ine Ash ley per for m s a sh ort
recital of new works by Western Australian composers. State Library.
26th November 5pm -Catherine Ashley Honours Recital. A selection
of contemporary works by Timothy Page, Yoko Ono, John Cage and
Bobby Previte. WAAPA Music Auditorium.
Dianella area
catherineashleyharpist@gmail.com
Teaches lever and pedal harp,
beginners to advanced players, all
ages.
Jane McCabe
Belmont area
Phone: 0404 081 179
Teaches beginner lever harp and
piano 8 years and up.
Helen Punch
South West area (Binningup)




13th & 14th November, 8pm W ASO per for m s a live scor e to
the movie "Back to the Future". Perth Convention and Exhibition
Centre.
20th & 21st November, 7.30pm W ASO per for m s B eeth oven
and Mahler. Beethoven Piano Concerto No 1 and Mahler Symphony
No 1 (Titan). Perth Concert Hall.
27th & 28th November 7.30pm - WASO Performs Ravel's Bolero.
Turing Danzas fantasticas, Ravel Alborada deal gracioso, Villa-Lobos
Choros No 10 Rasga o curaçao, Falla Nights in the Gardens of Spain,
Ravel Bolero. Perth Perth Concert Hall.
12th December 7.30pm W ASO per for m s Sym ph ony in the
City. Langley Park, Perth.
19th December, 2pm Per th Sym ph ony Orchestra presents "The
Snowman", a family event. Scotch College.
Phone: 9720 2871 or 0427 217 664
www.harpsounds.com
Facebook: harpsounds
Teaches lever/celtic and pedal
harp, beginners to intermediate
players.
Bronwyn Wallis
Bayswater area
Phone: 0417 939 095
info@angelsounds.com.au
Teaches lever & pedal harp and
theory, beginners to advanced
players.
The Harp Society of
Western Australia Inc.
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
Helen is an agent for Salvi Harps and imports harps
direct from Italy
The Salvi Start and Play Harps are available with the
innovative new silk gut strings. The silk gut strings are
made with a polymer that gives a tension that is in the
middle between gut and nylon. It is a very resonant
string. The finish on the harps is a new water-based
finish that is rather matt than satin. Each has birch
soundboards and all harps come with a tuning key.
For further information on Salvi pedal and lever harps
go to their website www.salvi.it
Contact Helen on 0427 217 664 or 9720 2871
helen@harpsounds.com.au
Helen also has her CD’s for sale - “Drifting” cost is
$20. The music on the CD is very meditative and
perfect to help to relax and unwind and would be great
as a Christmas gift! A sample of the music is on the
website www.harpsounds.com.au.
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
06/12/15
Christmas Carols
Fremantle
11 am TBC
30/01/16
Committee Meeting
Yvonne's House
3 pm
13/03/16
Harps Gathering
LeisureFit Melville
(formerly Melville
Recreation Centre) Corner
Canning Hwy & Stock Rd
1.45 pm
16/04/16
Committee Meeting
Yvonne's House
3 pm
23—
25/04/16
Harp Camp
Advent Park
18/06/16
Harp Youth Festival
United Church, 43-45 Star
St, Carlisle
1 to 3 pm
18/06/16
Committee Meeting
United Church, 43-45 Star
St, Carlisle
4 pm
14/08/16
AGM
TBC
TBC
14/08/16
Harps Gathering
TBC
TBC
TBC/10/16
Harps Gathering
Albany
TBC
22/10/16
Committee Meeting
Yvonne's House
3 pm
03/12/16
Christmas Carols
Fremantle
TBC
27—
28/08/16
Balingup Medieval Festival
St Paddy’s Irish Theme
Great Southern Region
gathering in Albany
Balingup
The Harp Society of Western Australia Inc. ~ Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229, Carlisle North WA 6101 ~ Email: harpsocwa@gmail.com ~ Phone: 0427 217 664
THE HARP SOCIETY OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA INC
Christine Jones of Albany organised early
Harpwest gatherings at Coogee. When Neil
Macdonald was told that aspiring young
harpists could only compete interstate if
they were members of an incorporated harp
society, he offered to formulate rules of
association (basically, the Department
Commerce’s Model Rules) with Christine’s
reference group, seeking incorporation
which was granted in 2012.
The objectives of the Harp Society of
Western Australia Inc. are, simply, the
enjoyment and promotion of harps and
harp playing in WA. Early executive work
fell to Christine and Neil but now we have a
thriving group of office-bearers, committee
members, regional reps, a newsletter and a
website.
We continue to hold Harps Gatherings
twice yearly, host concerts by interstate
harpists, and interact with the wider local
community. In 2013 the Harp Society
hosted its first annual Youth Harp Festival,
enlisting Mrs Sarah Bowman ~ Principal
Harpist of WASO to adjudicate and mentor
young harpists of WA. In 2015 the Harp
Society hosted its first annual harp camp
with Mary Doumany as guest harpist. With
local harp teachers the Harp Society is
constantly working together to bring
further opportunities to WA, for the
upcoming generation of Harpists in WA.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Jane McCabe
Ella Scott
Fred Brewer
Membership
Secretary
Helen Punch
Committee
Member
Henri Pougnault
Administration
Secretary
Committee
Member
Committee
Member
Committee
Member
Merilyn Hewson
Yvonne Levingston Catherine Ashley Pam Pougnault
Harp Society memberships run from August for a period of 12 months and
starts from $30 for the year.
Benefits of membership include:
Inaugurated in 2012
P O Box 2229,
Carlisle North WA 6101
Web:
www.harpsocietywa.org.au
Email:
harpsocietywa@gmail.com
Phone:
0427 217 664
Being a part of the growing community of harpists in Western Australia
Be the first to know about harp events, workshops and concerts
Newsletter
Free listings / advertising in the newsletter for teachers, performers,
harp makers and other harp businesses
Discount harpist rates at gatherings ~ Member harpists $5, Non-
member Harpists $10, Spectators $2
Discount harpist rates on Harp Camp
Discount entry rate for Solo Harp Sections in the WA Youth Harp
Festival ~ Members $12, non-members $15
5% off all sheet music and CD’s from the “WA Harp Centre” when
spending over $100 in one transaction.
AGM voting rights