The Camac Festival will be…in Toulouse !

Second “Glowing Harp” Competition, April 5-10 2019, Kharkiv New directions with Mai Fukui

Latest

April 17, 2019

The third weekend of October means only one thing – the Camac Festival! This takes place every year, in a French-speaking region somewhere that is not Paris. For the last thirteen years, our concept has been to tour with a top-quality artistic programme, a large exhibition of new and second-hand harps, and a big team of technicians to carry out the maximum number of regulations. The other essential aspect of the Camac festivals is the collaboration with the artists of our host cities. We want each festival to be a voyage of discovery, a centre of opportunity, and a meeting-point for friends old and new.

In 2018, we had an excellent weekend in Belfort, near the Swiss and German borders in North-East France. This year, the Camac Festival returns to Toulouse, further South and not too far from Spain. The programme also travels far, bringing artists together from all over the world. Representing the classical harp, we are delighted to welcome David Lootvoet, Principal Harp of the Opéra national de Paris, and Veronika Lemishenko, Principal Harp of the much-praised Ural Philharmonic in Ekaterinburg. Students will also have a chance to work with David on solo literature and orchestral excerpts in a classical masterclass. The ever-dynamic world of the Celtic harp will also be much in evidence: Breton lever harp star Nolwenn Arzel will perform in duo with her colleague Loïc Bléjean (low whistle, and Uilleann pipes). Nolwenn will also give a Celtic workshop. This is designed for students who have been playing the harp for three years or longer, and of course everybody is welcome to come and watch.

: David Lootvoet

: Veronika Lemishenko

: Nolwenn Arzel

: Loic Bléjean

Jessica Browning

Leaping across to the world of amplified harps, we discovered Jessica Browning at the Journée de la harpe in Seraing earlier this year. Together with drummer Baptiste Metayer, Jessica is Duo Blew Harp, and we are delighted to have been able to invite her again, to Toulouse! They will be playing the Camac festival’s late-night, Saturday night set on October 19th; prior to this, Jessica will give a pop harp class, so you can try out all sorts of new things for yourself.

Rossitza Milevska

Rossitza Milevska, no stranger to Camac events, will also perform on the blue harp, with Cédric Le Donne (rhythm section) – and the assembled classes of the Toulouse, Blagnac, Roques-sur-Garonne and Tournefeuille conservatoires and music schools. Rossitza’s project, which features new jazz arrangements for student harp ensembles, would not have been possible without the vision and commitment of teachers Fabienne Hilar-Drhouin, Mathilde Sandoz and Dominique Piussan – we are so grateful to them, and hugely looking forward to the show.

Camac CEO Eric Piron and his commercial team will be in situ throughout the weekend, with the biggest touring exhibition of our season. You can also book a free regulation of your Camac harp.

Entry to all events is free, but reservations are required. Please fill out the form to book your places for the concerts and workshops. To book regulations, please email [email protected], including your harp’s serial number.

Camac Festival, Belfort 2018

November 9, 2018

We have returned from a fantastic festival in Belfort, not far from the Swiss and German borders in North-East France. We were hugely touched by the enthusiasm and collaboration from everybody in situ - and blown away by the show at the end. Read more…