This Devon harpist,
was born into a musical family. It was part of his
education, as well as his brother’s and two sisters‘, to
master an instrument. At one stage, his parents sold
both their cars so they could afford the music lessons.
As a
boy of four he would sit for hours working the
reel-to-reel, listening to classical music such as the
Saint Matthew’s Passion and the occasional folk tunes.
At the age of seven He started to play the Lyre and at
nine he took up his main instrument, the Harp.
Although for eight years he made his living as a
kindergarten teacher, He still played the Harp as a
hobby and occasionally professionally.
He
moved from Holland to Northern Ireland.
The Irish tunes,
the melodies of Turlough O’Carolan (the blind harpist
and composer) and the passion people felt for their
music inspired him.
He
moved from Northern Ireland to Devon bringing the Irish
tunes with him and once he’d given up his teaching job
he became a full-time harpist.
What he has done.
He
has been a harp teacher for more then twenty years and
has been performing as a soloist and with his brother
Marc who plays the violin. Together they’ve been on
Concert Tours in Britain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium,
France, Germany, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland.
He had
private tuition for years from the renowned Harpist
Cathy White who is the Principal Harp teacher at the
Birmingham Conservatoire and Harp teacher at the Royal
Music Academy in London.
He
has been the harpist of the Torbay Symphony Orchestra
and has been a Wedding Harpist for 20 years. He has also
played at festivals, hotels and restaurants. Recently he
did some recording with Joss Stone for her new album.
He has
also recorded four albums :
1. Seaweed on the tide
(Celtic Harp)
2. Picking up the thread (Concert Harp)
3. The Walpot Brothers (Harp and Violin)
4. Butterfly Wings (Harp and Violin)
Where he has played.
He
has played in most of the major hotels in Devon and the south
west.
Amongst them are : Powderham Castle, Dartington Hall,
The Imperial Hotel, Ston Easton Hotel, Bovey Castle, The
Fowey Hall Hotel. He has performed in Concert Halls
throughout Britain, Germany, France, Holland, Ireland,
Belgium, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland.
