Neil Wood is a brilliant young Clàrsach (Scottish Traditional Harp) player from Glasgow
Neil is the ideal choice for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, corporate dinners and private events, Neil will add a touch of class to any event.
He performs regularly at some of Scotland’s top hotels, castles & wedding venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond. Neil is always delighted to play specific musical requests given enough time to rehearse.
Neil is currently working and living in Glasgow. Having played from an early age, Neil was taught under internationally renowned Scottish lever-harp player Rachel Hair until he undertook a BMus (Hons) Traditional Music (Scottish Harp) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in July 2020.
During his undergraduate studies at RCS Neil developed an interest in early music and historically informed practice. This resulted in a shift in principal research focus from the conventional finger-pad using the technique on a gut-strung lever harp to the less commonly used fingernail techniques associated with the wire-strung harp playing. Under the guidance of principal tutor Karen Marshalsay, initially through exploration of historical fingernail technique sources for Celtic harp such as the Welsh Robert ap Huw manuscript (1613), Neil began to develop his practice through the use of fingernail techniques on both the contemporary gut-strung/levered and ancient wire-strung harps of Scotland.
Neil aims to create a uniquely Scottish sound by employing historically informed performance techniques in a contemporary Scottish traditional music setting. His MPhil research supports this endeavour, casting the net towards other fingernail harping traditions from around the world and exploring the impact on authenticity that the incorporation of these techniques has on traditional Scottish harp practice.
Neil is keenly interested in promoting and preserving the traditions of the Clàrsach in Scotland. Neil is also vice-convenor of the Glasgow Branch of the Clàrsach Society.
Education
BMus, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Traditional Music (Scottish Harp)
