The Society hosts events throughout the year. There are sanctioned competitions at local highland games across the country culminating in The National Scottish Harp Championship of America. We also host an Annual Membership Meeting which gives the membership an opportunity to meet our board members, officers, and committee chairs and find out what's happening in the administration of our society.
To compete in the sanctioned competitions, one must be a member of the society. Membership information can be found on our Membership Page. It is generally possible to fill in a membership form at the competition, but it's best to plan ahead. The rules for these competitions are described at length in the Handbook for SHSA sanctioned harp competitions, which is summarised in the Rules Summary. Competitors will be asked to complete a registration form and the top portion of the appropriate Adjudication Sheets prior to competing for each competition category that is entered. Printing and completing this form prior to the competition saves time and can help avoid distraction prior to competing.
The society also sponsors the Herbert P. MacNeal National Scholarship. The winner of this scholarship is chosen from among the Journeyman and Masters competitors at The National Scottish Harp Championship of America each year. See the Scholarship page for more details.
Trophies and Scholarships awarded at the Ohio Scottish Games in 2009 include: National Scottish Champion – Herbert P. MacNeal Trophy and OSG “keeper” trophy, Scottish Harp Society of America $1,000 travel scholarship (please see special requirements for this scholarship under the SHSA website “Scholarship” tab), NEW Somerset Harp Festival Scholarship, Harper of the Day – Dr. Andrew Turner Memorial trophy, $200 Ohio Scottish Arts School scholarship for beginner or novice, Most Promising Beginner – Mary Young Memorial trophy, Clan Lamont award, the Bardic Cup trophy for special category in song or spoken word and medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in all categories.
Competition organizers should contact the
Competition Chair, for information and forms needed to host a SHSA Sanctioned Competition. In order to have your competition sanctioned, please use this form.
The National Scottish Harp Championship of America - 2009
The Scottish Harp Society of America’s National Scottish Champion competition will be held at the Ohio Scottish Games, Wellington, Ohio, on June 27, 2009. All harp players are welcomed to the competition, but must perform on a levered folk harp, play Scottish music or original pieces in a Scottish style, and be members of the Scottish Harp Society of America (SHSA). Membership to SHSA is available through this website or you may complete the membership form on the day of competition and include payment with your registration fee.
Open registration is held the morning of the competition, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to save you late entry fees and gate fees to get into the games. Your entry fee of $15 also includes a noon workshop, taught by Scottish harper, Ann Heymann and light luncheon provided by North East Ohio Harp Circle. To pre-register, contact: Linda Phillips, Chairman, P.O. Box 46, Berlin Hts., OH 44814, email her here, or download the form as it becomes available here. This site has been having security issues, so please exercise caution when visiting.
Our judges for 2009 are Sue Richards and Sharon Knowles, both fantastic and well known Scottish harp musicians and adjudicators across the United States, Canada and Western Europe.
For competition rules and categories, be sure check the SHSA Handbook on this website.
Trophies and Scholarships awarded at the Ohio Scottish Games in 2009 include: National Scottish Champion – Herbert P. MacNeal Trophy and OSG “keeper” trophy, Scottish Harp Society of America $1,000 travel scholarship (please see special requirements for this scholarship under the SHSA website “Scholarship” tab),NEW Somerset Harp Festival Scholarship, Harper of the Day – Dr. Andrew Turner Memorial trophy, $200 Ohio Scottish Arts School scholarship for beginner or novice, Most Promising Beginner – Mary Young Memorial trophy, Clan Lamont award, the Bardic Cup trophy for special category in song or spoken word and medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in all categories.
Camp sites are available at the Ohio Scottish Games. Please check the games website for more information. For motel rooms near the games at Wellington, please contact Linda Phillips at the above addresses for a list.
Many of our competitors stay after the Ohio Scottish Games to participate in a week of harp classes with the Ohio Scottish Arts School at the nearby Oberlin College campus. Instructors for harp this coming year include Maeve Gilchrist, Cindy Shelhart, Ann Heymann, Sue Richards and Sharon Knowles. For more information on the Ohio Scottish Arts School, please contact: Pam Kilpatrick, Registrar, 2750 Jameston Drive, Rocky River OH 44116-3649 or email her here. Forms may be downloaded off of the school website.This site has been having security issues, so please exercise caution when visiting.
SHSA judge training and certification is also available. Please contact the Judge Certification Chair for more information.
Have questions regarding some aspect of competing? Contact Competition Chair.2008 Annual Membership Meeting - minutes coming soon
Wanted: Harp Circle Leaders at Highland Games
Martha Kuch has come up with an idea to attract harpers to Highland Games for fun. Let's have more harp circles! If there are harpers who would like to coordinate a harp circle at their local Highland Games, the SHSA and Kilt & Harp will help publicize these events. The SHSA will send post cards, and e-mails to harpers in the geographical area of the Games locations, and the K&H will announce the harp circle if the information is received at least 4 months prior to the event. Any harper willing to coordinate a harp circle at their local Games or other Scottish event, please contact Martha Kuch.