“Traditional to the core and contemporary in sound; Janet embodies Irish harping at its most appealing, original and vibrant.” - Sean Rafferty, BBC
Janet Harbison’s creative energy, performing skill, leadership and commitment to her art has created a tidal wave of enthusiastic harping in Ireland. From her emergence in the 1970s, the trail she has blazed has been well worn by following generations and many of today’s leading players can trace their harping ancestry to her.
Janet’s focus has been on creating a community of traditional players, who have learned 'by ear' and play creatively and spontaneously as harpers have done for centuries. Convinced that the spectacle of many harps will assure a concert audience, she has created possibilities for large scale collaborations between harp schools and orchestras across the northern hemisphere – developing not only a significant audience, but generating excitement, adventures and friendship among the players.
Supporting access to instruments, players, performances, teachers and training, Janet addresses the total process of playing the harp from the first lesson to the stage debut - and explores the role of musicianship in personal development, creative artistry, social confidence, community cohesion, cultural identity, mental health and advanced mental skills.
In the Irish (and Celtic) harp, Janet recognises spirit, beauty and the potential for excellence and delight - bringing joy to the world with an ancient art that has been particularly special to the Irish for millennia.
