Heather Downie is a renowned Scottish harpist and educator, celebrated for her dynamic performances and innovative approach to traditional music. Hailing from Dunblane in Scotland, Heather holds a First Class Honours degree in Scottish Music, a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance and a Masters of Education in Learning and Teaching the Arts. She began her performing career fresh from her studies and quickly established herself as one of the leading harp voices in Scotland. Heather has performed extensively worldwide as a solo artist and as part of the band ‘Top Floor Taivers’, previous nominees of Best Newcomers at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards. Heather has also performed alongside the innovative folk band ‘The Shee’ and as part of The Shee Big Band project put together for the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards. Heather was also a finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year and has been nominated Tutor of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards.

As the Principal Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Heather plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of harpists, nurturing both exceptional performers and creative innovators. Her career has been marked by significant performances at prestigious events, including the World Harp Congress, Harp Con Online, and Camac’s 25th UK Celebration. She toured the east coast of the USA for 5 weeks in the summer of 2023, with other notable performances in England, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Latvia & Canada. In January 2025, Heather will again grace the stage at Celtic Connections, one of Scotland’s most acclaimed music festivals.

Her debut solo album, Nae Sweets for Shy Bairns, showcases Heather’s distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary influences. The album was lauded by Alex Monaghan of The Living Tradition, who noted, “There is almost nothing predictable about this CD: it will open your eyes and amaze your ears. A must-have for harp fans.” Alongside her solo career, Heather is the founder of How To Harp, an innovative online membership program that connects harpists worldwide and provides high-quality education accessible to learners of all backgrounds.

SA CELTIC HARP ORCHESTRA

The SA Celtic Harp Orchestra is a group of passionate harpers who share a love of Celtic music. Formed in 2018 by Christine Morphett and now directed by harpist-singer Emma Horwood, SACHO have performed sell-out shows for the Adelaide Fringe Festival, at the Fleurieu Folk Festival, The Irish Club and Scottish Friddle Club, and in various concert series in Adelaide. The group has also participated in several workshops with visiting harpists from overseas.

SA CELTIC HARP ORCHESTRA

This concert is sponsored by

CARTER HARPS AUSTRALIA: www.carterharpsaustralia.com.au

CAMAC HARPS FRANCE: www.camac-harps.com

More information about Heather Downie is available at: www.heatherdownie.co.uk