Rachel Hair

{{short description|Scottish harpist}} {{For|the hairstyle|Rachel haircut}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Rachel Hair | honorific_suffix = | image = Rachel Hair 2010.jpg | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = Hair in 2010 | background = **Mandatory** Use one: solo_singer, non_vocal_instrumentalist, non_performing_personnel, or temporary | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name =  | alias = | birth_date =  | birth_place = | origin = Ullapool, Scotland | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = Folk | occupation = Recording artist, performer, music teacher | instrument = Harp | years_active = 2007-present | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|https://www.rachelhair.com/}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''Rachel Hair''' is a folk harpist from Scotland. She plays the Celtic harp, also known by the Scottish Gaelic word ''clarsach''.

== Early life and education == Of mixed Scots-Irish parentage, Hair was born and brought up in the village of Ullapool. At ten years old, she was exposed to the harp through the Scottish organization Fèis Rois, which organizes schools and festivals to teach traditional music and Gaelic.<ref>{{cite web |title=What We do |url=https://www.feisrois.org/about-feis-rois/what-we-do/ |website=Feis Rois |accessdate=2020-09-29}}</ref> She studied music at the University of Strathclyde, where she gained a first class honours degree.<ref name="Ross">{{cite web|url=http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4131/Ullapool_showtime_for_rising_star_Rachel.html|title=Ullapool showtime for rising star Rachel|date=13 June 2008|work=Ross-shire Journal|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20100930181732/http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4131/Ullapool_showtime_for_rising_star_Rachel.html|url-status=dead|archivedate=30 September 2010}}</ref>

== Career == In 2007, Hair released her debut harp album, "Hubcaps and Potholes", and has since performed at many festivals including Celtic Connections, the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe.<ref name="Ross" /> She has traveled throughout Europe, the United States, and New Zealand performing and teaching.<ref name="IOM">{{cite news |title=Manx Music and Dance: Going global during the lockdown |url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=558480 |accessdate=2020-09-29 |publisher=Isle of Man Courier |date=2020-05-24}}</ref> According to music reviewer David Pratt, Hair "is recognised as the world’s leading expert in Manx Harp music."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pratt |first1=David |title=RACHEL HAIR & RON JAPPY: SPARK |url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2019/06/rachel-hair-ron-jappy-spark/ |accessdate=2020-09-29 |publisher=folk radio |date=2019-06-04}}</ref> She travels monthly to the Isle of Man, where she teaches for several days. She also teaches lessons in people's homes and teaches regularly in The Netherlands.<ref name=HC>{{cite web |title=Home Is Where the Harp Is |url=https://harpcolumn.com/blog/home-is-where-the-harp-is/ |publisher=Harp Column |access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref>

Hair also helps coordinate the annual Edinburgh International Harp Festival. In 2020, the festival's 39th year, the festival was forced to cancel its in-person activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Hair to coordinate the Virtual Edinburgh International Harp Festival. Over five days, 18 different harpists performed and led workshops online.<ref name="Rudden">{{cite news |last1=Rudden |first1=Liam |title=Edinburgh's International Harp Festival goes global as it reinvents itself as a virtual online event |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/edinburghs-international-harp-festival-goes-global-it-reinvents-itself-virtual-online-event-2523898 |accessdate=2020-09-29 |publisher=Edinburgh Evening News |date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

Also in 2020, Hair began offering free harp lessons via YouTube through her "Harp at Home" series, in which she teaches Scottish songs and sells the corresponding sheet music.<ref name=HC /> And she was nominated for "Music tutor of the year" in the annual Scots Trad Music Awards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nominees Announced for 2020 Scottish Traditional Music Awards |url=https://journalofmusic.com/news-uk/nominees-announced-2020-scottish-traditional-music-awards |access-date=February 3, 2020 |publisher=Journal of Music |date=November 3, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, Hair and Manx Gaelic singer Ruth Keggin launched a joint crowdfunding campaign to produce a debut duo album. They reached their target goal of £5,000 within 12 hours of launching the campaign and achieved a stretch goal of £10,000 after 48 hours. Some matching funds were provided by Creative Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rachel and Ruth - a debut duo album! |url=https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/rachelandruth/updates#start |website=Crowdfunder |access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref>

Additionally, Hair has published several books of music that she has arranged for the harp.<ref name="IOM" />

== Discography == * ''Hubcaps and Potholes'' - 2007 * ''The Lucky Smile'' - 2009 * ''No More Wings'' (as the Rachel Hair Trio) - 2012 * ''Tri'' (as the Rachel Hair Trio) - 2015 * ''Sparks'' (as Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy) - 2019

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.rachelhair.com/ Rachel Hair Official Website] * {{Instagram | rachelhair }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hair, Rachel}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Scottish folk harpists Category:Scottish women harpists