• In 2025 we added a full day to the festival. Thursday of the festival will now be a full day of workshops, lunchtime concert, morning yoga, evening concert, and Somerset Harp Ensemble.
• This is also our second year celebrating in Princeton, NJ, a town steeped in history, the arts, great restaurants, and shopping. 
• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to find out more.

What is included with a full festival ticket?

• Four days of workshops Thursday – Sunday
• We added extra workshops on Thursday to make it a full day of workshops
• Over 100 workshops and events with some of the most sought after harpists from around the world. 
• Video on Demand for workshops and performances available until Oct 31, 2025
• Pre-Workshop morning activities
• Morning Yoga for Harpists
• Somerset Harp Ensemble rehearsal with a performance on Sunday July 20 @ 12:00pm
• CEUs: courses designed for therapeutic harpists (please check with your individual therapeutic harp program to see which courses correspond)
• Focus Areas: Celtic, Technology and the Harp, Technique, Performance, Arranging, World Music, Therapeutic Harp.
• Exhibit Hall: We added a preview day at Lunchtime on Thursday this year. The Exhibit Hall officially opens Friday – Sunday
• Catch an impromptu performance by our presenters doing demonstrations in the Exhibit Hall
• Lunchtime Concerts Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (We have added a Thursday Lunchtime Concert)
• Evening Concerts: Thursday (includes an after party meet and greet), Friday, Saturday

Special events: 

• Somerset’s Got Talent
• Bal Folk Dancing from Italy and Scottish Ceilidh Dancing (with Adriano Sangineto and Rachel Hair)
• Renaissance Ball fun with Nancy Hurrell
• Therapeutic Harp Circle/Knitting Circle
• Irish Session: Hosted by Harpers’ Escape, Grainne Hambly, William Jackson, Kathy DeAngelo and Debbie Brewin-Wilson email :kathy (at) harpagency.com for set lists and more info
• The Festival Merch Table: where you can find recordings, sheet music and more from your favorite artists in addition to festival merch based on this year’s gorgeous design by Grammy® nominated Art Director Nick Farrrow
• Guides to local attractions and restaurants
• And so much more!

Absolutely! We have:

• A special Beginner’s track of classes.
• There are workshops and lectures for learners of all levels, even those who have never touched a harp before!
• There are also concerts for inspiration,
• “harp tastings” to help you find the perfect harp for you,
• and an exhibitor’s hall where you can try out harps, shop for sheet music and other harp-related items.
• There are also many social events and opportunities to ask other harpists questions and chat about all things harp as you get to know this warm and wonderful community.

No! While it’s helpful to have your own harp at many of the workshops, not all workshops require it. There are also lectures where a harp isn’t necessary. There are also a limited amount of loaner harps available for those who are travelling to Somerset and can’t bring their own harp. Reach out to director@somersetharpfest.com for more info.

Definitely. There are instructors from all over the world at Somerset who focus on techniques, world folk music, various musical styles, recording the harp, Harp and Technology and creative ideologies that can enrich your playing no matter how experienced you are. Plus Somerset is a wonderful way to meet other harpists from around the world. 

A specialty program tailored specifically to young harpers ages 8-17

• We offer a cozy, small program within our conference for young people to make friends and play harp together that is accessible, fun, and challenging.
• opportunity to sample the full smorgasbord of other workshops that only Somerset offers.
• We have the excitement of harp players coming from all over the country.
• Rub shoulders with in an incredible diversity of harps and music
• Get inspired at the daily concerts with some of the world’s top players
• We welcome young students of all levels
• Nia Pierce will lead students through classes and play-alongs
• Parts will be created to suit different levels of experience (beginner, intermediate, and advanced).
• In-Person only
• July 17-20 The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village (Festival Roomblock Rate Available)

Yes, workshops taking place at the in-person festival are also being broadcast LIVE on Zoom and will be recorded.  Whether you are attending In-Person or Online you will have the chance to view the recordings of these workshops until October 31, 2024.

Every workshop will have a Somerset staff member moderating the meeting. The moderator will keep an eye on the chat and will present your comments/questions to the presenter at a convenient time during the workshop.

Festival goers tickets’ include access to all of the concerts at lunchtime and in the evenings.

If you only want to attend a concert, tickets are available for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s 7pm concerts and Sunday’s 12 noon concert. LINK COMING SOON.

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE. $25 for Thurs, Fri, & Sat 7pm Concerts

$15 for Sunday’s Noon concert which includes access to the Exhibit Hall

A great travel resource rome2rio.com

The closest airports to the hotel are Newark Liberty International EWR (https://www.newarkairport.com)

And The Trenton Mercer Airport TTN https://www.flytrentonmercer.com/

The closest train station to the hotel is Princeton Junction Station (https://www.visitprinceton.org/trip-planning/getting-here-and-transportation/by-train/) 

Not to worry! With your full festival ticket workshops are recorded and the videos are viewable until October 31! Access to view any of the workshop videos is included in your ticket, whether you took that workshop live or not. You can take as many workshops as you want!

Yes. Every workshop has a Zoom moderator managing the Zoom session in real time during the live workshop. Questions will be conveyed to the instructor by the moderator throughout the workshops. 

1. Go to somersetharpfest.com
2. In the top right corner you will see LOGIN
3. Click LOGIN
4. Enter the email you used to register for the festival and your password
5. If you have not created a password or have forgotten your password click “CLICK HERE” at the bottom of the login page.
6. A password reset will be sent to your email address.  If you don’t see the email, please check your spam folder.
7. Once you are logged in you will find the daily schedule, PDFs for each class, and Zoom Links for workshops and concerts.
1. Video Walkthrough of the Member Area 

Admittance to concerts, Exhibit Hall, workshops as noted in our program.

This option only available with one full registration purchase.

Non-Harping Companion Ticket (Must be purchased with a full festival ticket)

The Non-Harping Companion ticket gives access to:

1. Concerts
   1. Lunchtime Concerts: Thursday – Saturday 11:30am-12:15pm
      1. Thursday: Learning the Harp Ensemble led by Christy-Lyn Dosé
      2. Friday: Bedside Harp Ensemble led by Norine Stewart
      3. Saturday: Youth Harp Program led by Nia Pierce and members of The Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts led by Robbin Gordon-Cartier
   2. Evening Concerts: Thursday – Saturday 7:00pm
      1. Thursday:
      2. Friday:
      3. Saturday
   3. Sunday Noon Concert
2. Exhibit Hall
   1. Entrance to The Exhibit Hall Friday – Sunday
3. Harp Tastings Friday and Saturday 12:00pm-12:45pm
   1. Friday: Small Harps
   2. Saturday: Large Harps
4. After Evening Concert Events: Thursday – Saturday
5. Morning Yoga: Thursday – Sunday 8:00am
6. Lectures
   1. Bedside Tales: A Therapeutic Harp Story Share with Edie Elkan 7/16/26 1:00pm-2:30pm
   2. Weddings: From Soup to Nuts with Robbin Gordon-Cartier 7/16/26 9:30am-11:00am
   3. Go Paperless with Digital Sheetmusic with Robbin Gordon-Cartier 7/17/26 9:30am-11:00am
   4. Introduction to Harp and Technology with Emily Hopkins 7/16/26 1:00pm-2:30pm
   5. Recording and Refining the Harp Digitally with Emily Hopkins 7/18/26 3:15pm-4:45pm
   6. Sharing the Harp Through Social Media with Emily Hopkins 7/17/26 3:15pm-4:45pm
   7. Hidden Historical Harps in Irish Castles and Museums with Nancy Hurrell 7/19/26 9:00am-11:00am
   8. Horsehair Harp Strings with Karen Loomis 7/18/26 3:15pm-4:45pm
   9. DIY Knot Tying with Liza Jensen 7/16/26 11:30am-12:30pm
   10. DIY Tuning with Liza Jensen 7/17/26 11:30am-12:30pm
   11. Harp Regulation & Maintenance with Liza Jensen 7/18/26 11:30am-12:30pm

There’s also so much to do in the Princeton Area.  Downtown Princeton is only a five minute drive from the hotel.  More information on exploring Princeton can be found HERE.