Harp Society Events





2024

  • Presentation with Ana Salvi Maddoz, director of Bow Brand Strings.
    Come and find out about the fascinating process about making harp strings.
    A short informal presentation by Ana will be followed by a Q&A session.
    Refreshments provided
    Sunday, 30th June, 2024 at 2:00pm
    Auditorium, Knox Cultural Centre
    Off-street parking is available.
    HSNSW members - FREE!
    Attendees of the Harp Teachers Symposium - free
    Non-members - $15
    Bookings are essential - Tickets available here

2023

  • Youth Harp Ensemble Concert
    Sunday 18th June, 2023, St Ives Uniting Church
    Photos are available here

2021

  • The Art of Therapeutic Harp Weekend

    FRIDAY 9th - SUNDAY 11th April, 2021

    This interactive weekend was held on the beautiful grounds of Hartzer Park Bowral.

2018

  • Masterclass and Q and A with Andrew Lawrence-King at the Opera Space
  • Harp Fair at Eastwood Uniting Church –30 year celebration of the Harp Society of NSW

2017

  • Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
  • Memorial Concert for June Loney at Boronia Park

2016

  • “Ask the Experts” (as part of the Harp Holiday)
  • Sydney-Based Harp Ensemble
  • Australian Harp Weekend at Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
  • Workshop and Concert with Mary Doumany

2015

  • Sydney-Based Harp Ensemble
  • Harp Workshop with Moira Lawry
  • “Ask the Experts” (as part of the Harp Holiday)
  • 10th Harp Eisteddfod Celebration Concert at Sydney Conservatorium of Music
  • Harp Eisteddfod #11

2014

  • Fundraising concert to support the World Harp Congress. St Peters Church, Watsons Bay. Harpists:Alice Giles and Genevieve Lang Huppert. Flautist: Lara Wiesel
  • Ask the Experts (as part of the Harp Holiday) A panel of harpists covering the topics of harp practise techniques, improvising and composition, freelancing, teaching harp, harp maintenance and therapeutic harp, talking about their area of expertise and answering questions from harpists.
  • Sydney-Based Harp Ensemble
  • Harp Eisteddfod #10

2013

  • BBQ and fun day with harp playing by ensembles and individuals. Lots of display harps brought by Brandden Lassells of Harps & Harps. Special guest appearance by Mariano Gonzales (harpist from Paraguay)
  • 9th Sydney Harp Eisteddfod

2012

  • BBQ and fun day
  • 2nd Harp Ensemble “Highly Strung” (formed as an offshoot of Sydney Based Harp Ensemble) and meets fortnightly
  • 8th Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
  • Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2011

  • BBQ and fun day
  • Harps @ The Hills Concert (harp solos, duos, ensembles and other instruments)
  • 7th Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
  • Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2010
● 1st Harp Ensemble “Sydney-Based Harp Ensemble” formed and meets every 2 months
● Glamour Event at Government House (Louise Johnson: harpist)
● 6th Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
● Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2009
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Genevieve Lang: harpist &
Jane Sheldon: voice)
● 5th Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
● Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2008
● Harp Composition Competition (held in conjunction with 3rd Harp Festival – Canberra)
● Harp Society 20th birthday celebration (Balgowlah)
● Social Event – a Victor Valdez Concert (Mexican harpist)
● Glamour Event at Government House (The Michelangeli Ensemble-James Kortum: flute, Julia Ryder: cello, Verna Lee: harp)
● 4th Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
● Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2007
● Social Event – a Victor Valdez Concert
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Harp Divas: Karen Hickmott - harp and Meinir Thomas - voice)
● 3rd Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
● Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2006
● Ask The Experts: A panel of harpists covering the topics of harp maintenance, memorising and arranging, playing at weddings, playing in shows, Latin-American harp, harp and voice, playing in a band and teaching harp, talking about their area of expertise and answering questions from harpists.
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Alice Giles: harpist & Arnan Wiesel pianist)
● 2nd Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
● Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2005
● 1st Sydney Harp Eisteddfod
● A World Premiere of the winning entry of The Harp Society Composition Competition -
“A Banister for a Mockingbird’s Sky” by Nathan Wilson. Performed by Alice Giles
● Concert at Music Room Killara (Isabelle Perrin: harpist from France)
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Mary Doumany: harpist)
● Belaroma Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2004
● HarpLore visit with lots of harp related products for sale
● The Harp Society is incorporated and produces its Constitution
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Katryna Tan: harpist from Singapore)
● Finks Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2003
● First website up and running
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Ulpia Erdos: harpist)
● Finks Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2002
● Latin American Harp Workshop (Victor Valdez: harpist)
● Verna Lee Harp Concert with Harp Attack Ensemble
● Folk / Lever Harp Workshop
● Playing the Harp for Fun Workshop (Ulpia Erdos)
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Victor Valdez: harpist)
● Finks Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2001
● BBQ Social Event
● Folk / Lever Harp Workshop
● Glamour Event at Government House Sydney (Genevieve Lang & Owen Torr: harpists)
● Finks Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists

2000
● BBQ Social Event
● Day Harp Workshop and harp displays at Santa Sabina School
● Finks Café: Informal harp playing open to all harpists
● Sale of Society’s large lever harp

1999
● Mary Doumany harp workshop and concert
● Belated Harp Society 10th birthday celebration (Curzon Hall)
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Susan Drake: harpist from UK)
● Student hire of Society’s large lever harp

1998
● Harp Expo – a display of all things related to the harp and available for purchase
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Alice Giles: harpist)
● Student hire of Society’s large lever harp

1997
● HarpLore – a display of all things to do with harps available for purchase
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Louise Johnson & Jane Rosenson: harpists)
● Sale of Society’s small lever harp
● Student hire of Society’s large lever harp

1996
● Jazz Workshop by Carolyn Sykes an Australian harpist living the USA (Trish Faulks)
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Marshall McGuire: harpist)
● Student hire of Society’s small lever harp

1995
● Social Day with guest Edward Witsenburg (Dutch harpist)
● Edward Witsenburg Concert
● Weekend Workshop at Santa Sabina School (Mary Brice)
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Susan Drake: harpist from UK)
● Student hire of Society’s small lever harp

1994
● Harps and Harmonies at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Solo harpists, The Harp Society Ensemble directed by Dr Evan Davies and The Sydney Children’s Choir conducted by Lyn Williams)
● Alice Giles performing, conducting a Master Class and giving private lessons
● Guest speaker Margie Kay: Feldenkrais Method – body awareness & relaxation
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Ulpia Erdos – harpist)

1993
● Glamour Event at Elizabeth Bay House (Louise Johnson – SSO harpist and Stephen Lalor –domra and mandolin)
● Family picnic

1992
● A Harp Concert in Colonial Style at Trinity Garrison Church, Argyle Place, The Rocks – solo harpists, with flute, horn, piano, voice and the Harp Society Ensemble of 26 harpists (Musical Director: June Loney. Organisers: Pamela Clements, Mary Brice and others)
● Harp and Flute Concert in conjunction with the Flute Society (from UK: Louise Martin – harp and Sally Stocks– flute)
● Flute and Harp Recital (Alice Giles – harp, Geoffrey Collins – flute)

1991
● The Harp in Mediaeval Music (Winsome Evans)
● Ensemble playing at Stanwell Tops for a Christian Convention
● Regular “Gatherings” in private homes with ensemble practice in the morning and a concert in the afternoon
● Separate ensemble practices
● High Tea at The Menzies Hotel to hear Ulpia Erdos playing harp

1990
● Concert with Alice Giles and Harp Society Ensemble
● Regular “Gatherings” in private homes with ensemble practice in the morning and a concert in the afternoon
● Christmas Party

1989
● Irish-Scottish Harp Weekend Workshop (Karen Hickmott & Cliona Molins)
● Society letterhead and logo competition
● Regular “Gatherings” in private homes with ensemble practice in the morning and a concert in the afternoon

1988
● The ‘Harp Society of New South Wales - Sydney Chapter’, under the leadership of June Loney, began with a meeting on 9th July. Our first newsletter was published shortly after this inaugural meeting
● Regular “Gatherings” in private homes with ensemble and solo playing