THE woman who convinced King Charles to reinstate the position of royal harpist after a century-long gap is aiming to inspire a new generation to play the instrument.
Renowned harpist Elinor Bennett, who was raised in Llanuwchllyn near Bala, is going on a 12-stop Wales-wide tour, The Dwylo ar Dannau'r Delyn (Hands on Harp Strings).
The concerts, masterclasses and workshops will take Elinor, the artistic director of the Wales International Harp Festival, to places where she has close personal connections.
Starting at Bangor on October 23, the tour will visit Pwllheli, Llangefni, Llanrwst, Swansea, Barry and Denbigh.
She will also visit Llanuwchllyn.
The tour, which follows a launch concert for the festival at Bangor University's PJ Hall, will feature some of her former students and colleagues.
As well as re-igniting interest in harp music following the Covid pandemic, the aim is to promote the fifth Wales International Harp Festival which will be staged at Galeri Caernarfon from April 5-11.
She will also be inviting harpists to take part in four competitions at the festival, with the aim of giving children and older harpists a platform to perform, receive comments from internationally esteemed harpists and make friends with young musicians from other parts of the world.
The closing date for applications for the competitions is January 2, 2023.
She will be stepping down as the festival’s artistic director after next year’s event.
According to Elinor, one of the aims of the tour is to encourage youngsters to learn how to play the harp.
"I have heard that fewer children and young people are taking up the harp and the tour will create an interest in the harp and raise awareness of the festival itself," she said.
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She added tickets for the tour are available online at www.walesharpfestival.co.uk and some local shops but will also be available on the door.
Born in Llanidloes in the former county of Montgomeryshire, her family later moved to Llanuwchllyn in Merionethshire.
Her father bought her first harp when she was just seven years of age though she did not begin lessons for another four years as her legs were not long enough to reach the pedals.
She said: "My father was very musical, as were my mother and grandfather. After we moved to Llanuwchllyn my father joined Cor Godre’r Aran. In 1949 they went to London to sing at the Dorchester Hotel, and while in the city he bought a harp for £30 and brought it back to Llanuwchllyn on the (London) Underground and the train."
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