Irish Harper To Play At Seacoast Artists Association In April

Press release from the SAA:

The Seacoast Artist Association is thrilled to present Regina Delaney at their Second Friday artist reception on April 14th, 5-7PM. Ms. Delaney is an Irish harper, singer, and dancer and teaches harp at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter.

As an artist on the NH State Council on the Arts roster and the MaineArts Commission, Regina performs and teaches in schools throughout the state. In the classroom, she introduces students to Irish poetry, music, song, dance, history, and literature. From her home, Regina teaches the harp to students of all ages. Ms. Delaney teaches the traditional Irish method – by ear, but also teaches her students to read music. Regina is also an artist on the NH Arts in Healthecare Roster, bringing her music into hospital, hospice, and other institutions.

In the United States, Regina has studied Irish harp with Aine Minogue and Maeve Gilchrist, and in Ireland with Janet Harbison and the Belfast Harp Orchestra. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann awarded Regina a scholarship to study the harp in Ireland as part of their Living Traditions Award. At her first appearance at the New Hampshire Highland Games, Regina placed first in the senior novice division. In 2003, Regina qualified for the All Ireland Fleadh (competition) in Harp and Vocals.

Invited as a participant, Regina performed harping, singing, and dancing at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival June 1999. At the festival, which draws over one million visitors, Regina also taught ceili dancing, gave a cooking demonstration about Irish soda bread and taught Irish crafts and dance at the children's tent. She repeated these performances at the Celebrate New Hampshire Culture Festival in Hopkinton NH in June 2000.

She has recorded nine CD’s and has appeared on numerous other artists' CDs. Regina founded and directs The New England Irish Harp Orchestra, which was founded in 2005. The Orchestra has released a CD titled “Live at the Portsmouth Athenaeum” and in 2010, a Christmas CD titled ‘The First Star’. Within the Orchestra, is an Ensemble and they released a CD in 2014 titled 'Another County Heard From". In 2018, NEIHO released a second Christmas CD titled 'A Snowy Path.' See more at reginadelaney.com.

In May, the Seacoast Artist Association will hold a spring show titled “Primavera: The Art of Spring” at the Exeter Town All. They will host violinist Dacha Thurber there on Friday, May 12th, 5-7PM, and the public is invited.

The Seacoast Artist Association is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. In conjunction with local schools, they offer scholarships to local high school seniors continuing with their art studies in college or university. Donations can be made at the gallery or by visiting their website seacoastartist.org. The gallery is in historic downtown Exeter at 130 Water Street. Hours are Wed-Sat, 10-5 and Sun 1-4. You can stay up to date by following them on Facebook and Instagram.

This press release was produced by the SAA. The views expressed here are the author's own.