Caroline Mackay has been in the music business her entire adult life, but it wasn’t until she heard the intricate harmonies of a Celtic harp during a meditation period that she realized her real calling.

“When harp came along I dropped everything else,” said Mackay.

“I was completely fascinated by the instrument. It really goes to my Celtic roots.”

Mackay and the Okanagan Harp Orchestra will be at the Crossroads Community Church across from the police station this Saturday for a performance starting at 3pm. Tickets are available for $15 at Black’s Pharmacy.

Mackay has been living in the Okanagan for the last 11 years, teaching harp lessons out of Vernon and Kelowna.

“I’ve got quite a large number of students,” said Mackay.

“It’s a full time teaching position.”

Mackay’s husband, Daniel Schmitt and her daughter, Siobhan, were also drawn by the harp’s original sound and form.
Schmitt, who used to be a stonemason, now builds harps, some of which will be in Merritt for this weekend’s performance.
At 16, Siobhan is one of the youngest members of the orchestra; she will be performing at Saturday’s concert.

Mackay, who has played in the US, Europe, New Zealand, and all over Canada, says she has seen a real resurgence in the art over the last few decades.

“It’s a very ancient instrument, but it’s got a new flavour now,” said Mackay.

“I do predict, from my experience, that it is a growing field.”

Mackay says she is not at all surprised that the World Harp Congress has chosen Vancouver for its 2011 venue.

“It attests to the number of harpists in BC,” said Mackay.

“There are a number of players in the Vancouver area as well as in the Kamloops and Kelowna area.”

Mackay encourages concert guests to come up after the show for a closer look at her favourite
instrument.