The How To Harp Christmas Collaboration is now open!! You can join in the fun here: https://www.howtoharp.com/courses/christmas-harp-collaboration-2025

This week Heather chats with professional harpist Dara Dubh about her journey from a small town in Northern Ireland to becoming one of Edinburgh’s most exciting contemporary harp voices. Dara shares how she blends her traditional roots with modern influences, collaborates with other artists, and pushes the harp into unexpected spaces. You’ll hear about her creative path, the challenges along the way, and her advice for harpists finding their own sound.

In this episode:

- Dara’s early start in music and discovering the harp at 11

- Moving to Edinburgh and finding her creative community

- Blending traditional Irish roots with contemporary sounds

- The joys and challenges of collaboration

- Advice for harpists on staying inspired and making music your own

Host: Heather Downie – Harpist, Principal Scottish Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and founder of How To Harp

Guest: Dara Dubh – harpist, songwriter, and performer based in Edinburgh

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