Autoharp
2012 Festival Feature Instrument

2012 is the year of the Autoharp at the Illawarra Folk Festival and sees international maestros visiting our fair festival to share their knowledge and love of this unique instrument.

You may not know the autoharp by name, but its melodies have been heard from the hands of a wide range of artists, from Billy Connelly to Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins) and June Carter Cash to Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones).

Lindsay Haisley (USA)

Lindsay Haisley is an internationally recognized virtuoso on the autoharp, a winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival's prestigious New Folk songwriting competition, and a member of the Autoharp Hall of Fame.  A dynamic and exciting player and performer, Lindsay is best known for his mastery of the chromatic autoharp, and his repertoire and style have pushed the instrument into new musical territory embracing folk, jazz, ragtime, and modern and traditional popular standards. His singing is accompanied by the simple and solid vocal harmonies of his wife and music partner, Cheryl Dehut.

www.lindsayhaisley.com
 

Donna & Rick Nestler

Donna is a classically trained multi-instrumenalist who has toured Europe and even played a bassoon solo at Hiedleberg Castle. Rick is a self taught picker who has played in low dives and institutions of higher learning from Canada to Bermuda and across the USA. Together they have brought their disparate influences to bear on a unique mixture of Folk, Maritime and Jug Band music at house concerts and folk festivals throughout the US. They have performed with  such greats as Pete Seeger, Tom Chapin, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Mike and Ruthy, Vanaver Caravan, Rik Palieri and Magpie.

www.ricknestler.com/musician.html
 

Eileen Kozloff (USA)

Eileen Kozloff is an award winning singer, songwriter and autoharper; taking first place at the Florida Old TimeMusic Championships in 2003. She has been actively involved in the autoharp world for nearly a quarter of a century and has been a featured performer and workshop teacher at numerous autoharp centered festivals; Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Cranberry Dulcimer and Autoharp Gathering, Mt. Dora Dulcimer and Autoharp Festival, Mini Mountain Laurel Autoharp Series. Eileen is slated to perform at Willamette Valley Autoharp Gathering July 2012! Her autoharp repertoire is a rich mix of old time chestnuts, Carter Family songs and her original music. Eileen is best known for her “pickless” style of diatonic autoharp, soaring vocals and powerful performances.broadcasts.

http://eileenkozloff.net/
 

Barbara Giamalvo (USA)

Barbara has played autoharp for over 25 years.  Bringing beginning autoharp workshops to bluegrass and folk festivals all over the midwest and western United States.  Co-founding the Arizona Autoharp Club, with over 300 members, coordinating meetings, performances and concerts.  Barbara has been described as the "go to person" to inspire anyone interested in learning autoharp. She has gone from autoharp student to performer to teacher to workshop/festival teacher to travel producer, bringing some of the top autoharp performers/teachers to OZ.    If you are looking for an instrument to put fun in your life, talk to Barbara at the festival.  She is the lady walking around with an autoharp and a great big SMILE!
 

Betty Scott (USA)

Betty is the 2009 International Autoharp Champion (US). Betty’s love of music was nurtured throughout her school years singing in choirs and playing folk guitar in the mid 60’s.  After retirement she discovered the autoharp in 2005, in the mountains of Arkansas.  Not realizing its full potential, she was thinking instead how well it would fit in a dry bag for canoe-trip campfire sing-alongs.  Betty soon discovered it to be the perfect vehicle to recall the rich tunes and harmonies from her youth. Although the selection of music Betty plays, “from Bach to Gershwin to Willie Nelson,” is in itself unusual for an autoharp, it is her unique picking style with clear bell-like melodies and “flying fingers” that puts the meaning of harp back into autoharp.

Cindy Harris (USA)

Cindy Harris from Pittsburgh, PA, USA has been playing and singing with autoharp, fiddle, and a variety of other instruments for as long as she can remember. Her repertoire includes instrumentals and songs ranging from old English ballads and Irish jigs to more contemporary songs. She is also a well known caller and teacher of American contradances and square dances.

Halfway Home (USA)

Dave Baumann and Barbara Herber form the core of Halfway Home from USA Arizona. Old Time and Contemporary Folk. Fine harmonies. Guitar, Fiddle, Autoharp. They have led workshops (group sings) in Carter Family material and educational sessions on Stephen Foster, Utah Phillips and Charlie Poole. They are spin-off from the Old Time String Band, “Close Enough,” one which allows us to explore the more contemporary folk world.
 

Pete & Keith Daigle

They are one of very few custom autoharp manufacturing facilities in the world. Their instruments are considered to be world class, and are played by professionals and amateurs alike. They provide classes on repairs, maintenance and many related subjects at many festivals in the US and abroad.

www.daigleharp.com 
 

Graeme Fletcher (Aust)

Graeme has performed as a solo artist/singer-songwriter at festivals, pubs and clubs for more than a decade. In the past 6 years he has been on a mission to "make the autoharp recognised, if not popular" and has promoted the instrument through performances and workshops at the National and other folk, old-time and bluegrass festivals and been a guest musician on other people's recordings.  Graeme also plays with Melbourne bands, Appalachian Heaven and The Stony Creek String Band.