As part of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 lecture series, Janet Harbison, the Belfast Harp Orchestra founder and director, presents an illustrated lecture with with film clips, chat and performances.
The Belfast Harp Orchestra (BHO) were a stage troupe of 20+ harpers aged mostly from 10 – 17 years mainly from Ulster counties and both religious/political traditions in Northern Ireland. Trained through the medium of traditional Irish music (the oral/aural tradition), they took the traditional harp to the international stage. Key achievements include touring with the Chieftains (with whom they performed at the world’s top venues in London (The Barbican and Royal Festival Hall), Washington DC (Kennedy Centre), and New York (Carnegie Hall) and for their collaboration The Celtic Harp album, they won a Grammy Award (1993).
Over the ten years of its existence, the Belfast Harp Orchestra graduated over 100 harpers – a high percentage of whom progressed on to professional musicianship as stage and studio traditional harp performers, corporate entertainers, church and ceremonial musicians, palliative therapists and teachers. Among the graduates are Michael Rooney, Grainne Hambly, Deirdre Macklin & Lucy Kerr.
- 7th August
- 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast, BT1 5GB
Find out more about the Belfast Harp Orchestra Legacy, Janet Harbison and book tickets at the Linen Hall website below.
linenhall.com/event/the-belfast-harp-orchestra-legacy-with-janet-harbison/
