HARP FEST NZ 2026 Workshop Descriptions
Workshop choices are required due to room size/space issues with the workshop classrooms (they weren't all designed to house many harps) Will will allocate rooms according to numbers - you need to stick to your workshop choices on the day.
After lunch presentations and talks do not have numbers restrictions aside from Harp Art (see below)
HARP FEST NZ 2026 Workshop Descriptions
Saturday Session 1
ALL THAT JAZZ - ROBBIN GORDON CARTIER (INT/ADV)
You want to add a new dimension to your repertoire but perhaps don’t know where to start? Let’s explore jazz repertoire for many levels and get the tools to approach this style of playing.
BRETON MELODIES AND ARRANGING - KEVIN LE PENNEC (INT)
This workshop introduces the specificities and subtleties of Breton traditional music. We will look at context and style, how to interpret melodies beyond what is written on the page, how to add accompaniment depending on a melody’s function, and how to give these tunes a strong sense of groove on the harp.
ENGLISH DANCE TUNES FOR THE HARP - ADELE COLES (ALL)
Let’s look at England’s rich history of traditional music, which at times is overlooked, and learn by ear one of these great tunes.
HARPMAKERS, REPAIRERS, AND TECHNICIANS - KIM WEBBY & JO BAEE
An informal discussion with like minds to talk about anything harp making and repair.
Woods, glues, techniques, finishing - whatever. There will likely be some of us who have experience in a given subject and more than one way of solving it!
Saturday Session 2
THE JOY OF MUSIC - ASHLEY TAYLOR AND QUINN MCLEAN (ALL)
A warm and welcoming harp workshop that invites participants to get back to what connects us all in the harp world - the joy of music! Through hands-on activities, light hearted exploration, and group sharing, attendees will discover how the harp can spark creativity, boost confidence, and lift the spirit. Whether you’re experienced, or just curious, this workshop celebrates music as a joyful, expressive, and shared experience.
TRIPLE HARP - TIFFANY BAKER (ALL)
A Triple Harp has three rows of strings - no levers or pedals. Tiffany will demonstrate the instrument’s special features, share how she started on this rare harp, and tell some of the history of the triple harp. There may be an opportunity to play a bit on the only working triple harp in New Zealand, and learn to play a piece of music from this era on your own harp.
MODAL MUSINGS - LOUISE BELL (ELE/INT)
Enjoy playing selected pieces from Louise’s newest collection “The Harmonising Harp - Modal music for therapeutic harpers”. Although inspired by her Harp Therapy training and experience, these original compositions are accessible for all harpers. Gather chord & improv tips! Explore modal theory and therapeutic principles.
Saturday Session 3
HARP ART - MOIRA PAGAN - 15 students max, aged 8 and older
Bring out your inner Harp Artist and create a landscape-based collage using a variety of printed and painted papers plus a harp silhouette on black paper for dramatic effect.
Create cards or a dramatic image for your music room and have some arty fun!!
Sunday Session 1
LET THE SPIRIT MOVE YOU - ROBBIN GORDON CARTIER (ALL)
What music fits where, how to know what denominations use what music and the different ways they are played. Let’s explore arrangements, rules and repertoire!
THE ART OF INTERPRETATION - NOEL WAN (INT/ADV)
Explore what makes a harpist’s performance truly distinctive by moving beyond technical mastery. We’ll draw on historical context, rhetorical ideas, and common compositional tropes to build a clear interpretative vision, while deepening awareness of dynamics, tempo, tone, timbre, and form. By understanding the relationship between sound and physical gesture and using form to build a sense of narrative, performers create interpretations that are vivid, expressive, and memorable.
RENAISSANCE TUNES FOR BIG AND SMALL HARPS - ERIKA LIEBERMAN (ELE/INT)
Hands-on tune workshop where we will learn two popular renaissance tunes and explore different left hand options for various skill levels and harp sizes. Sheet music will be provided, but reading is not required.
Sunday Session 2
PEDAL HEAVY - HARRISON CHAU (INT/ADV)
It’s sometimes said that harpists focus more on our hands and not enough on our feet. Let’s take some time to explore more of what our feet are doing on the pedals with the use of enharmonics, double pedalling and glissandos … it doesn’t have to feel like dancing with two left feet!
MODAL HARP MELODIES FROM IRELAND - ANNE-MARIE O’FARRELL (ELE/INT)
Discover the modes behind beautiful Irish folk melodies, and learn to play simple arrangements of these tunes yourself.' Suitable for those who read music but can accommodate those who learn by ear.
ACCOMPANYING TECHNIQUES - KEVIN LE PENNEC (INT)
A practical workshop focusing on harp techniques. We will explore muted techniques, percussive sounds, and melodic and rhythmic loops, and how to combine them to create supportive, dynamic, and expressive accompaniments.
Monday Session 1
IF YOU’RE LOST IN TRANSCRIPTION - NOEL WAN (INT/ADV)
Delve into the creative and technical challenges of adapting major works for the harp, drawing on transcriptions such as Brouwer’s The Black Decameron, Ives’ The Alcotts, Bach’s Italian Concerto, and Debussy’s The Sunken Cathedral. We will explores non-idiomatic solutions, like jazz-style pedalling and 5th finger use, to show how careful listening and problem-solving shape successful transcriptions. Emphasizing creativity, the session reveals how transcription can expand technique and invite performers to hear the harp in entirely new ways.
ICING ON THE CAKE - ROBBIN GORDON CARTIER (ALL)
Use special effects to enhance your music and add dimension to your playing. An overview of harp notation, effects and techniques as used by modern harp composers such as Andres, Salzedo and Ortiz. Practical tips on how to achieve the effects and where they sound the best.
SONGS OF JEWISH JOY - ERIKA LIEBERMAN (ALL)
In this workshop we'll learn two vibrant traditional Jewish tunes celebrating joy and festivity! Perfect additions to repertoire for weddings, holidays, nursing homes, and more. We'll start with the right-hand melody, then explore various left-hand accompaniment options tailored to your skill level and harp size.
Monday Session 2
SPOT-CLEAN THOSE PESKY CORNERS - ANNE-MARIE O’FARRELL (PEDAL/LEVER ALL)
How to troubleshoot tricky passages so they never trouble you again! This workshop will help you design practice strategies to overcome challenging spots in your pieces. Bring along the music you'd like to look at. Suitable for those who read music.
THE MUSICIANS TOOLBOX - HARRISON CHAU (INT/ADV)
Let’s take a look at some of the tools it takes to be a self-motivated and active musician at whatever part of the musical journey you are on. We’ll look at how you can create your own arrangements, use lead sheets to learn new tunes (in any genre) and improvise around tunes you know. Streamline the things in your toolbox to make them more useful in your everyday harping.
BRETON DANCES - KEVIN LE PENNEC (ALL)
This workshop offers an introduction to a selection of traditional Breton dances, with cultural and musical context. Participants will be invited to learn basic dance steps and to sing the melodies that support these dances, in order to better understand the strong connection between movement, voice, and music in Breton tradition.
Workshop choices are required due to room size/space issues with the workshop classrooms (they weren't all designed to house many harps) Will will allocate rooms according to numbers - you need to stick to your workshop choices on the day.
After lunch presentations and talks do not have numbers restrictions aside from Harp Art (see below)
HARP FEST NZ 2026 Workshop Descriptions
Saturday Session 1
ALL THAT JAZZ - ROBBIN GORDON CARTIER (INT/ADV)
You want to add a new dimension to your repertoire but perhaps don’t know where to start? Let’s explore jazz repertoire for many levels and get the tools to approach this style of playing.
BRETON MELODIES AND ARRANGING - KEVIN LE PENNEC (INT)
This workshop introduces the specificities and subtleties of Breton traditional music. We will look at context and style, how to interpret melodies beyond what is written on the page, how to add accompaniment depending on a melody’s function, and how to give these tunes a strong sense of groove on the harp.
ENGLISH DANCE TUNES FOR THE HARP - ADELE COLES (ALL)
Let’s look at England’s rich history of traditional music, which at times is overlooked, and learn by ear one of these great tunes.
HARPMAKERS, REPAIRERS, AND TECHNICIANS - KIM WEBBY & JO BAEE
An informal discussion with like minds to talk about anything harp making and repair.
Woods, glues, techniques, finishing - whatever. There will likely be some of us who have experience in a given subject and more than one way of solving it!
Saturday Session 2
THE JOY OF MUSIC - ASHLEY TAYLOR AND QUINN MCLEAN (ALL)
A warm and welcoming harp workshop that invites participants to get back to what connects us all in the harp world - the joy of music! Through hands-on activities, light hearted exploration, and group sharing, attendees will discover how the harp can spark creativity, boost confidence, and lift the spirit. Whether you’re experienced, or just curious, this workshop celebrates music as a joyful, expressive, and shared experience.
TRIPLE HARP - TIFFANY BAKER (ALL)
A Triple Harp has three rows of strings - no levers or pedals. Tiffany will demonstrate the instrument’s special features, share how she started on this rare harp, and tell some of the history of the triple harp. There may be an opportunity to play a bit on the only working triple harp in New Zealand, and learn to play a piece of music from this era on your own harp.
MODAL MUSINGS - LOUISE BELL (ELE/INT)
Enjoy playing selected pieces from Louise’s newest collection “The Harmonising Harp - Modal music for therapeutic harpers”. Although inspired by her Harp Therapy training and experience, these original compositions are accessible for all harpers. Gather chord & improv tips! Explore modal theory and therapeutic principles.
Saturday Session 3
HARP ART - MOIRA PAGAN - 15 students max, aged 8 and older
Bring out your inner Harp Artist and create a landscape-based collage using a variety of printed and painted papers plus a harp silhouette on black paper for dramatic effect.
Create cards or a dramatic image for your music room and have some arty fun!!
Sunday Session 1
LET THE SPIRIT MOVE YOU - ROBBIN GORDON CARTIER (ALL)
What music fits where, how to know what denominations use what music and the different ways they are played. Let’s explore arrangements, rules and repertoire!
THE ART OF INTERPRETATION - NOEL WAN (INT/ADV)
Explore what makes a harpist’s performance truly distinctive by moving beyond technical mastery. We’ll draw on historical context, rhetorical ideas, and common compositional tropes to build a clear interpretative vision, while deepening awareness of dynamics, tempo, tone, timbre, and form. By understanding the relationship between sound and physical gesture and using form to build a sense of narrative, performers create interpretations that are vivid, expressive, and memorable.
RENAISSANCE TUNES FOR BIG AND SMALL HARPS - ERIKA LIEBERMAN (ELE/INT)
Hands-on tune workshop where we will learn two popular renaissance tunes and explore different left hand options for various skill levels and harp sizes. Sheet music will be provided, but reading is not required.
Sunday Session 2
PEDAL HEAVY - HARRISON CHAU (INT/ADV)
It’s sometimes said that harpists focus more on our hands and not enough on our feet. Let’s take some time to explore more of what our feet are doing on the pedals with the use of enharmonics, double pedalling and glissandos … it doesn’t have to feel like dancing with two left feet!
MODAL HARP MELODIES FROM IRELAND - ANNE-MARIE O’FARRELL (ELE/INT)
Discover the modes behind beautiful Irish folk melodies, and learn to play simple arrangements of these tunes yourself.' Suitable for those who read music but can accommodate those who learn by ear.
ACCOMPANYING TECHNIQUES - KEVIN LE PENNEC (INT)
A practical workshop focusing on harp techniques. We will explore muted techniques, percussive sounds, and melodic and rhythmic loops, and how to combine them to create supportive, dynamic, and expressive accompaniments.
Monday Session 1
IF YOU’RE LOST IN TRANSCRIPTION - NOEL WAN (INT/ADV)
Delve into the creative and technical challenges of adapting major works for the harp, drawing on transcriptions such as Brouwer’s The Black Decameron, Ives’ The Alcotts, Bach’s Italian Concerto, and Debussy’s The Sunken Cathedral. We will explores non-idiomatic solutions, like jazz-style pedalling and 5th finger use, to show how careful listening and problem-solving shape successful transcriptions. Emphasizing creativity, the session reveals how transcription can expand technique and invite performers to hear the harp in entirely new ways.
ICING ON THE CAKE - ROBBIN GORDON CARTIER (ALL)
Use special effects to enhance your music and add dimension to your playing. An overview of harp notation, effects and techniques as used by modern harp composers such as Andres, Salzedo and Ortiz. Practical tips on how to achieve the effects and where they sound the best.
SONGS OF JEWISH JOY - ERIKA LIEBERMAN (ALL)
In this workshop we'll learn two vibrant traditional Jewish tunes celebrating joy and festivity! Perfect additions to repertoire for weddings, holidays, nursing homes, and more. We'll start with the right-hand melody, then explore various left-hand accompaniment options tailored to your skill level and harp size.
Monday Session 2
SPOT-CLEAN THOSE PESKY CORNERS - ANNE-MARIE O’FARRELL (PEDAL/LEVER ALL)
How to troubleshoot tricky passages so they never trouble you again! This workshop will help you design practice strategies to overcome challenging spots in your pieces. Bring along the music you'd like to look at. Suitable for those who read music.
THE MUSICIANS TOOLBOX - HARRISON CHAU (INT/ADV)
Let’s take a look at some of the tools it takes to be a self-motivated and active musician at whatever part of the musical journey you are on. We’ll look at how you can create your own arrangements, use lead sheets to learn new tunes (in any genre) and improvise around tunes you know. Streamline the things in your toolbox to make them more useful in your everyday harping.
BRETON DANCES - KEVIN LE PENNEC (ALL)
This workshop offers an introduction to a selection of traditional Breton dances, with cultural and musical context. Participants will be invited to learn basic dance steps and to sing the melodies that support these dances, in order to better understand the strong connection between movement, voice, and music in Breton tradition.