Wendy Stewart

I began learning the Scottish harp at the age of twelve from one of Scotland's finest teachers, Jean Campbell, in Edinburgh. Over the many intervening years I've continued to build up my abilities, expertise and joy in performing, teaching, writing and arranging harp music from the traditions of Scotland for today.

As part of the revival of interest in the instrument in the 70s, I competed in many Mods and music festivals, and developed my performing skills through regular Clarsach Society events in Edinburgh and appearances at the Festival Fringe.

In 1977, Alison Kinnaird released 'The Harp Key' - in my eyes the first real traditional harp recording. It was an honour for me to play a small part on this ground breaking album by one of the greats (and a great friend.) 

Having completed a science degree in the same year, I began to travel from my base in Lancaster, and performed more widely in Britain and Europe, becoming over the years a member of several traditional bands including Donal Maguire's Occasional Band, and the splendidly titled bands 'Fat Hen' and 'Pen Gwyn'! Through this work and the thriving session scene in North-West England, I developed an interest in Irish, French, Scandinavian, and Cajun music. Over these years I also developed (with the help of many wonderful pupils) my teaching skills, recorded a cassette and LP, and found time to produce two lovely boys with husband Alan!

In 1990 we moved to Edinburgh and I was recruited into the ranks of the well-established Scottish band Ceolbeg. There the blend of modern (drum kit and keyboards) and traditional (pipes, harp, flute and whistles) instruments helped widen my musical horizons still further, enhanced my arranging and compositional skills and did wonders for my concertina playing. Major tours, radio and television work and four Ceolbeg CDs followed - the latest of which used one of my compositions 'Cairn Water' as the title track.

Whilst in the capital, I also released two aptly titled solo albums ' About Time' and ' About Time 2' (what else!), which along with companion music books have been received with great critical and popular acclaim. During this time my teaching horizons also expanded, and I am now in great demand as a teacher at harp courses in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and North America, not to mention all around Scotland.

I now live in deepest Dumfriesshire, on the banks of the aforementioned Cairn Water, continuing my solo work (having left Ceolbeg in 2001) and my many teaching commitments including tutoring on the BA degree course in Scottish Music at the RSAMD in Glasgow.