My guest this week is harpist Rachel Clemente.  Rachel is a New England based pedal and traditional Scottish harpist.  I met Rachel at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival. We have so many harpist friends in common who have influenced and inspired her music.  Artists like: Dominique Dodge, Rachel Hair, Kim Robertson and Corrina Hewat to name a few. Catch my earlier interviews with these and other amazing harpists to get inspired by them as well. 

Rachel started playing harp at the age of five and thanks to the Ohio Scottish Arts School she became interested in Scottish music.  She studied pedal harp at The Interlochen Arts Academy then went on to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow with a bachelor's degree in traditional Scottish music. Some of Rachel’s accolades include U.S National Scottish Harp Champion in 2016 and the winner of Princess Margaret of the Isles Clàrsach Competition (USA) in 2021.

Rachel, based in New England, now focuses on performing, teaching harp and composing.  She frequently performs as a duo with piper Dan Houghton.   Rachel is working on an album that should be released some time in 2022, but in the meantime check out Rachel’s Youtube channel and her 2018 release, A Quiet Uniqueness.

Enjoy my conversation with Rachel. 

LINKS

Rachel’s Website: www.rachelclementeharpist.com

Dan Houghton: www.pipingtool-scot.com

Rachel’s Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC-EdkBOqxDXJlcGykyPeD2A

Rachel’s Princess Margaret of the Isles Competition 2021 Performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvS23BogPIU

Harp Column article: harpcolumn.com/blog/rachel-clemente-wins-princess-margaret-scottish-harp-prize/

Ohio Scottish Arts School (OSAS): ohioscottishartsschool.com

Scottish Harp Society of America (SHSA): www.shsa.org

Interlochen Center for the Arts: www.interlochen.org/arts-boarding-school

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: www.rcs.ac.uk

Princess Margaret of the Isles Clàrsach Competition: www.harpfestival.co.uk/2021/04/princess-margaret-of-the-isles-prize-for-senior-clarsach-entry-deadline-extended/

Edinburgh International Harp Festival: www.harpfestival.co.uk

Ministry of Folk: www.ministryoffolk.com

Waring Harps: waringmusic.com

Somerset Folk Harp Festival:  www.somersetharpfest.com