Debbie Brewin-Wilson
Debbie Brewin-WilsonListeners praise Debbie's music as "filling and satisfying," her voice as "warm and resonant; perfectly suited to the harp." Her first recording, Dream of Caledonia, received favorable reviews and airplay across the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Ireland. Debbie's latest recording, Roots and Wings, released in February 1998, picks up where her first recording left off. Tapping into Debbie's songwriting talents, the recording features original songs and tunes as well as some traditional favorites.
"Debbie Brewin-Wilson brings a modern flair to a centuries-old instrument"
Richard Mancino, Jr., The Press of Atlantic City
"An original artist, a tunesmith, and a songwriter of considerable skill. . ."
Steve Winick, Dirty Linen
"A warm, disarming style. . ."
John O'Regan, RTE, Limerick 95 FM
"Her voice creates an immediate intimacy. . .a warm sound. . ."The Scottish Harp Society of America's National Amateur champion in 1991, Debbie Brewin-Wilson continues to build a solid professional musical career. Debbie headlines at various Celtic festivals and venues in the Northeast, including:
Adam Victor Christensen, Folk Harp Journal
With Kathy DeAngelo of McDermott's
Handy, Debbie also performs as Harpers Bizarre, a Celtic harp duo with
a twist. Debbie and Kathy conduct the Harpers'
Escape Weekend each Fall at the Jersey Shore, teaching harp technique
and mentoring harp players.
Kathy
DeAngeloKathy is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the Celtic harp, fiddle, 5-string banjo, mandolin, bodhran and occasionally the guitar. She also sings in both English and Irish Gaelic. She took up the harp in 1984 and is completely self-taught. Although respectful of the traditional harp repertoire and early styles, her musical perspective she is influenced by the other instruments she's played and performing in bands (Irish music to be sure, but also country, western swing and 40s standards) which undoubtedly contribute to Kathy's driving harp style.
Kathy's first album was "Come Take the Byroads," with McDermott's Handy in 1985. Four cuts from that record prominently feature Kathy's harp playing; one of which, through the magic of multi-tracking, also includes her on fiddle and bodhran. She has also recorded a Christmas album with the Merrie Mates called "O Come Little Children", ensemble performances with hammer dulcimer, fiddle, guitar and tinwhistle.
This is the eighth year that she and "harp buddy" Debbie Brewin-Wilson are coordinating the Harpers Escape Weekend, now held in Burlington, NJ. She and Debbie have taken their "Playing by Ear" workshop on the road to the ISFHC conrference in Galveston in 1998.
Her performing career is also highlighted in greater detail on the McDermott's Handy home page where you can see an extensive list of performing credits.