Rachel Hair
Rachel Hair

Biography

Rachel Hair

"One of the UK's finest contemporary Celtic harpists and tunesmiths" (Songlines)

Rachel Hair performs a spellbinding mix of Scottish, Irish and original harp music both as a soloist and in her trio with fellow musicians Jenn Butterworth (guitar/vocals) and Euan Burton (double bass).

Drawing inspiration from the hothouse that is Scotland's diverse music scene, the group's arrangements breathe passion, emotion and energy into traditional and contemporary tunes and songs, the result of which is quite simply sheer joy and irresistible fun.

 Rachel, from the Highland village of Ullapool, is renowned for her bright and bubbly approach to the Scottish harp. A first class Honours graduate in music from Glasgow's University of Strathclyde, and recipient of the Sir Alexander Stone Award for excellence in performance, her two highly commended albums Hubcaps and Potholes and The Lucky Smile showcase the oldest of Scottish instruments in a new, inspired light.

 "Hair has that uncanny knack of picking just the right tunes to take her audience on a spectacular acoustic musical tour." (Folk and Roots)

 

As well as performing Rachel is a highly experienced, and much sought after freelance tutor of the harp with many of her students gaining 1sts at local and National Gaelic Mods and All Scotland and All Britain Irish Music Fleadhs.

Regularly tutoring for organistations including Feisean Nan Gaidheal, Feis Rois (Scottish Gaelic Music), Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Irish music) and Glasgow's own Celtic Connections, she is currently the harp tutor at Douglas Academy, one of Scotland's four specialist schools for excellence in music.

Rachel frequently travels far and wide to countries which have included France (Rencontres de la harpe Celtique in Brittany festival), Germany (Harfentreffen Harp festival), Switzerland (Celtic Days Harp Festival) , Finland, Denmark, the USA and India, to teach not only Scottish/Irish Harp but general traditional/Celtic Music and Groupwork.

She teaches using the traditonal "by-ear" method with a strong emphasis on fun and enjoyment. Her arrangements are played worldwide and her recently published harp arrangement book "Mostly Scottish Harp, Volume 1" has been been warmly received.

"a fine addition to any harpers repertoire - and not only harpers. " (Folkword)