Harp Talk Radio Interview Series

  • Episode 1: Cecile Corbel, Breton Celtic Harpist - download .mp3

    Cecile Corbel“Imagine a red haired Celt from Brittany, just out of a Broceliande tale, with a voice that hovers somewhere between the high registers of Kate Bush, the purity of Sinead O’Connor and the mysticism of Enja, and you’ll have a good idea what this remarkable young harpist, arranger of traditional songs and original songwriter sounds like.”

    Singer and Harpist Cecile Corbel was born in Brittany, in the Finistère, at the very west of Europe.  In her teens, after learning the guitar, she discovered the Celtic harp.  The young Breton composer and singer now shares her “pop folk Celtic” music with her musicians in France and abroad.

  • Episode 2: Ann Yeung, Contemporary Music for the Harp - download .mp3

    Ann YeungKnown for her bold interpretations and diverse repertoire, Dr. Ann Yeung has performed in festivals throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas.  She has won top prizes at the Nippon International Harp Competition, Lily Laskine International Harp Competition, American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition, Anne Adams Awards, and Ruth Lorraine Close Awards.  To her credit, Dr. Yeung is the only person to simultaneously receive first prizes in the two highest divisions of the American Harp Society National Competition and Prix Renié.  As a winner of Artists International, Dr. Yeung premiered her transcription of the Goldberg Variations at Carnegie Hall in 1999. She has premiered numerous compositions, including multi-media works at World Harp Congresses in Dublin and Amsterdam, and the National Flute Convention in New York City. She has made recordings for the Innova, Fons, Albany and Cadenza Labels.

The New Orleans Chapter of the American Harp Society recently received a grant from the American Harp Society to produce a series of radio interviews with harpists. The finished interviews, with related music clips, will be broadcast on the Harpestry radio program of KRVS in Lafayette, LA and other National Public Radio stations. The series will also be available on the internet at www.krvs.org. 

 The interviewees will be chosen according to the following guidelines:

1. A Louisiana harpist- Barbara Belew
2. A Classical harpist-Sadie Turner- AHS Concert artist for 2008/09
3. A Latin harpist-Edmar Casteneda.
4. A Celtic harpist- Mary Radspinner, Melody Music
5. A harpist of historical importance-Henriette Renie, as researched by Dr. Jaymee Haefner, Dallas
6. An American harpist-Robbin Gordon-Cartier
7. An international harpist-Celso Duarte-Mexico
8. A Jazz harpist-Felice Pomeranz
9. A Regional harpist-
10. A harpist providing services to the field-, Kim Rowe-Harp Column
11. A composer-Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
12. Ann Yeung and contemporary.compositions for the harp.