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Kristin Meyer Named Harpist of the Day at the 11th Annual Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival
Kristin Meyer of Columbia, Maryland was named “Harpist of the Day” at the 11th Annual Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival this past weekend. The annual award, sponsored by the Clan Currie Society is awarded to the Celtic Harpist with the best overall performance. Robert Currie, president of the Clan Currie Society presented the award to Ms. Meyer at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 22. This is the second year that Clan Currie has sponsored the award to recognize excellence in the mastering of the clasarch – the traditional instrument of the Scottish bards. The 2004 winner was Jaimee Leigh Joroff of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Harp competition coordinator, Elizabeth Ayers Berry, had high praise for Meyer. “Kristin’s performance really stood out. She’s only been competing for 2 or 3 years but has already picked up the Scottish feeling for the rhythmic variations, or the Scottish “snap” as harpists call it.” Berry also praised the games organizers for hosting the harp competition. “Although not many people play the harp, it’s very important that it has a presence at highland games. It’s as much a part of the Scotland’s musical history as the bagpipe or the fiddle. Through the competition, many people get their first exposure to the Scottish harp and will know where to go if they want to further their knowledge or take up the instrument.”
In other clan-related competitions, Clan Currie placed sixth in their second year of competing in the Games’ “Punkin Chunkin” event. All Clans and Societies participating in the games are eligible to compete in the annual event. The prize for farthest “chunk” is a free tent space at the following year’s festival. Society member Patrick Currie of South Boston, Virginia served as the designated chunker for the second year in a row. Currie placed sixth this year, one slot better than his 2004 finish.
Learn more about the graceful art of punkin chunkin by clicking here The Clan Blair Society took home the honors for Best Clan Tent. The late Norman Blair, founder of the Blair Society provided invaluable assistance to Clan Currie in the early stages of their formation as a not-for-profit educational and cultural organization over a decade ago. Over 25,000 visitors attended the 2005 Festival which also hosted one of the country’s few sanctioned North American Highland Games Championships for athletics. The festival also included traditional games elements including solo and band bagpipe competitions, Scottish and Irish fiddle competitions, and highland dance events. About Kristin Meyer Kristin Rebecca Meyer developed a serious interest in music five years ago. At that time she began playing guitar, specifically lead and jazz styles. While taking lessons in voice and guitar over the past four years, her studies expanded to include classical and folk music styles. The beauty and exuberance of Celtic folk music led Kristin to playing the levered harp. Although she has only been playing harp for a little over two years, she has been very active in performance over that time. Kristin plays harp and guitar and sings with two Celtic bands (“Painted Trillium” and “Stringed Fury”), is a member of the Howard Community College Chorus, and also performs as a soloist, particularly in harp and voice. She has performed in a variety of settings in Maryland and Virginia, including churches, private parties, festivals, recitals, and charity events. During the past four years Kristin has also performed as a lead guitarist in two different worship bands, and teaches guitar as a private instructor. She is continuing to study music and plans on making it her professional career.
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