Media Release
For immediate release
May 3, 2005
Harpfest West opens at Banff Centre
A cornucopia of harps will fill The Banff Centre this weekend for Harpfest West. A three-day celebration of harp music, Harpfest West will feature three dozen harpists in a series of weekend concerts, culminating in the largest ensemble of harpists ever to perform in Canada.
Julia Shaw, formerly principal harpist with the Calgary Philharmonic and one of the organizers of Harpfest West, says one of the festival’s goals is to “explode the myths around harp music.” “People tend to think of harp music as airy-fairy and ornate – we hope to prove otherwise.” Along with co-organizer Nora Bumanis, principal harpist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Shaw has assembled a weekend’s worth of repertoire ranging from modern to classic, from Celtic to jazz, and from solo to ensemble performances.
The festival opens Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a recital by world-renowned harpist Judy Loman in the Rolston Recital Hall. Principal harpist for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1960 to 2002, Judy Loman has appeared as guest artist with many noted orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony, the BBC Symphony, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa. A prolific recording artist, her most recent CDs include Judy Loman Favourites; Illuminations; and Dance of the Blessed Spirits. She is a recipient of the Juno Award for best classical recording (1979) and the Canada Council’s Grand Prix du disque Canadien (1979).
Saturday evening’s concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolston Recital Hall features an eclectic mix of harp music including Celtic, classical, jazz, and Latin styles performed by Canada’s Sharlene Wallace, Nora Bumanis, Julia Shaw, Terry McDade Trio, Keri-Lynne Zwicker, and Gianetta Baril. Harpfest West concludes on Sunday afternoon with an ensemble performance by over 30 harpists at 2:00 p.m. in the Rolston Recital Hall. “As far as we have been able to determine, this will represent the largest group of harpists ever to perform together in Canada,” Shaw notes.
Harpists participating in Harpfest West will also have an opportunity to participate in master classes and workshops focusing on technique, performance, ensemble playing, harp repair and maintenance, and injury prevention.
For tickets to Harpfest West, call The Banff Centre Box Office at 1-800-413-8368 or 403-762-6301.
Downloadable images for Harpfest West are available at: http://www.banffcentre.ca/media_room/images/music_and_sound/2005/harpfest/
Media Contact
Jill Sawyer
Media and Communications Officer, The Banff Centre
403.762.6475
