The events, organised by Manx Heritage Foundation for February 6 and 7, will be led by Scottish Gaelic singer and step dancer Joy Dunlop and Celtic harp expert Rachel Hair.

The weekend will culminate in a concert featuring both women (see timetable below for details).

Joy Dunlop is a multi-prize winning Gaelic singer and popular international performer who combines her full time Gaelic development work for An Comunn Gaidhealach with regular stints on Gaelic television and radio and she also writes a monthly column for the Gaelic newspaper An Gàidheal Ùr.

A trained ballet dancer and cèilidh dancing enthusiast from birth, Joy embraced Scottish step dancing in her early teens and in 2006 was crowned Traditional Interceltic Dance Champion at the International Pan Celtic Festival.

In 2009 she was runner up in the prestigious Gold Medal Series competitions after winning the Gold Medal Final competition and being runner up in the Òran Mòr competition.

Rachel Hair is no stranger to the Isle of Man – she enchanted the public at St German's Cathedral, Peel, during last year's Yn Chruinnaght.

One of Scotland's finest players of the clarsach, the traditional harp, she was born and brought up in the Scottish highland village of Ullapool and was first introduced to the harp at the age of 10.

She graduated with a first class honours degree in music at the University of Strathclyde where she was also awarded the Alexander Stone Prize for Outstanding Performance in her final solo honours recital.

Of mixed Gaelic heritage – her mother being from Ireland and her father from Scotland – Rachel has developed her own style of playing traditional music on the harp.

She has also been highly influenced by studying alongside folk, jazz, classical, funk, rock and pop musicians.

Rachel has released two CDs to date – Hubcaps and Potholes (2006) and The Lucky Smile (2009).

All the workshops are free but but to help MHF determine numbers musicians should book a place in advance by emailing manxmusicspecialist@mhf.org.im

Anyone opting for the harp class should have some level of experience (minimum grade one standard) and can bring their own instrument and while the workshops are mainly for adult musicians over 16, Rachel will be offering a workshop for young harpists under 16 on the Sunday afternoon.

www.joydunlop.com
www.rachelhair.com

Timetable of Events

Saturday, February 6:

• Music Centre, Lord Street, Douglas 11am to 12.45pm: Solo Scottish Gaelic singing – adult workshop OR harp solo - adult workshop.


• 2pm to 4pm: Scottish Gaelic Choral singing – adult workshop OR harp accompanying – adult workshop.

Sunday, February 7:

• South Douglas Old Friends' Association, Finch Road, Douglas 2pm to 4pm: Scottish traditional dance – adult workshop OR harp (under 16s only) 7.30pm: Ballakermeen Studio Theatre, Douglas.


• Concert featuring Joy Dunlop and Rachel Hair with local support. Tickets £6 (£3 concessions) on the door or from Breesha or Chloe at the workshops.