Directory
Ciorstaidh Beaton
Solo - String
Instrumentation
- Ciorstaidh Beaton - Harp & Clàrsach
Repertoire
Classical, Orchestral, Chamber, Contemporary, Traditional Folk, Jazz & Original Music
Biography
Ciorstaidh Beaton is a versatile harpist, always immersed in a diverse range of musical styles which uniquely shape her as one of Scotland’s leading harpists. She is an in-demand session, chamber and orchestral musician, often involved in numerous cross-genre recording collaborations, new commissions, soundtracks and multi-media performances, and has performed in concert with some of the UK’s leading musicians, composers, orchestras and ensembles which include; the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the orchestra of the Scottish Opera.
She grew up as a native Gàidhlig speaker in the township of Kilmuir, on the Isle of Skye. Ciorstaidh graduated with a BMus (Hons) from the Royal Northern College of Music and with a post-graduate in harp performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Ciorstaidh currently holds both the teaching positions of lecturer of clàrsach and traditional music at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and at the Music School of Douglas Academy. She frequently adjudicates prestigious competitions and teaches harp and clàrsach workshops and masterclasses in person and online. She has performed as a soloist to members of the Royal Family including HM the Queen Camilla, to Classic FM last year for their 30th Birthday celebrations, and played for numerous VVIP events across the country.
Ciorstaidh is currently writing a new piece of music for harp and string quintet (Mr McFall’s Chamber) which is to be premiered in 2024 as part of the ‘Distill’ Showcase by Hands Up for Trad, and is collaborating with NASA space scientists on an album about solar sounds. Earlier this year she filmed and emulated satellite sounds on the harp for the launch of NASA’s brand new space program, “the H.A.R.P Project”. A podcast series “Curious Universe” has recently been released by NASA featuring some of Ciorstaidh’s own compositions and arrangements, heavily influenced by the music, voices, literature and scenery of Gaelic Scotland, particularly of her native landscape.
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