Isobel Mieras is a Scottish

clarsach The Celtic harp is a triangular frame harp traditional to the Celtic nations of northwest Europe. It is known as in Irish, in Scottish Gaelic, in Breton and in Welsh. In Ireland and Scotland, it was a wire-strung instrument requiring great ...

(Celtic harp) player. She is a member of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and in 2020, she was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

"for services to Music in Scotland and to the Revival of the Clarsach."

Early life and education

Mieras was born on 11 March 1940 in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. She grew up learning many traditional Scottish songs from her mother, a voice teacher. Mieras went on to attend college to become a primary school teacher, and worked throughout school as a singer.

Professional career

Mieras began seriously studying the harp in 1966, taking lessons from Jean Campbell. While still a primary school teacher, Mieras played music for her students and eventually left the classroom in order to teach the harp full-time. She created the harp programs at

George Watson's College George Watson's College is a co-educational Independent school (United Kingdom), independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a Scottish education in the eight ...

St Mary's Music School St Mary's Music School is a music school in Scotland in the West End of Edinburgh, for boys and girls aged 9 to 19 and is also the Choir School of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. The school, which is non-denominational, provides education for ...

, and

City of Edinburgh Music School The City of Edinburgh Music School is a state-maintained music school in Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded as the Lothian Specialist Music School in 1980, it changed its name in 1996 when Lothian Regional Council was dissolved into four ...

. She also taught private lessons to students who went on to become world-renowned harpists, including Catriona McKay,

Maeve Gilchrist Maeve Gilchrist is a Scottish harpist and composer currently living in New York City. She is known for combining traditional folk music, jazz, improvisation, and experimentation. Early life and education Gilchrist grew up in Edinburgh, where s ...

, Ailie Robertson, and Fiona Rutherford. Cited as one of the most influential harpists of recent years, Mieras is president of The Clarsach Society, the organization founded in 1931 that is credited with helping spur the revival of the harp in Scotland. She also serves as one of two Artistic Advisors to the annual

Edinburgh International Harp Festival The Edinburgh International Harp Festival is an annual harp festival held in Edinburgh, Scotland that includes concerts, workshops, and courses, as well as one of the world's largest exhibitions of harp-makers. Organized and promoted by The Clar ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mieras, Isobel Living people Scottish harpists Scottish folk harpists Women harpists Members of the Order of the British Empire 1940 births