Christa McCartney, 48, is a music teacher, performer of Manx folk music and a harpist with the symphony orchestra.

She has recently released ’Shee’, an album of Manx folk and harp tunes.

Describing herself as quite busy, but enjoying everything she does, Christa plays the organ at Agneash chapel and runs choirs at the youth arts centre and at the University College Isle of Man, where she also lectures in business.

She hopes to finish a doctorate in education this year, focussing on business sustainability.

What is your idea of a perfect meal?

Something vegetarian or vegan, beautifully made, unhurriedly eaten, and in the company of people that I love.

What is your favourite way to relax?

Warm fire, a single malt, good music (Bach or Handel usually), a book and a snuggle.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Probably my handbag. It’s shaped like a guitar and hand made in Italy. It was shockingly expensive but I absolutely adore it. My harps are quite an extravagance too. I have five!

Do you have any pets?

A dog, a miniature poodle/bichon frise cross, a cat and three goldfish in a pond.

What is your favourite time of the year?

Autumn, with the colours and the smell.

What is the first job you ever had?

I worked front of house at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon. I’m still very much a Shakespeare gal.

What is your greatest achievement?

I don’t know yet. You’ll have to ask me when I’m older.

Do you have any irrational fears?

My grandfather, father and brother all died tragically and suddenly. I worry too much about how I’d cope if it happened again.

What is your worst habit?

Talking without thinking. I’ve got myself into trouble far too many times.

What is your favourite book?

I have a book called ’The Book of Spells’ which is a collection of the most spellbinding poetry for reading aloud. It covers many genres and several languages and is just a delight to read.

What is your favourite band/artist at the moment?

As I am always going from one thing straight onto the next at the moment I just playing safe with the media I’m surrounded by. I don’t really know what’s out there.

What is your favourite part of the Isle of Man?

Agneash. There’s a really special feeling about it.

What is the last show/band that you saw live?

Buncha Skankas at the Climate Change Coalition gathering last Friday.

If time/money were no object, what would be your perfect day?

Breakfast in a posh hotel in New York, a spa in Budapest, a walk in a woodland glen in Switzerland, a lunchtime concert of Beethoven, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, late lunch sat outside an Italian restaurant in Croatia and an evening performance at the RSC in Stratford followed by a nice hotel with a great bar and restaurant and a very comfy bed.

Choose three people, dead or alive, to invite to dinner?

Julie Andrews, Dudley Moore because he was such an amazing pianist and would ensure the night was full of fun, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe because he was such a polymath, and was able to make sense of the world in a way I envy.

A bit of an eclectic mix but I think we’d all get along splendidly.