Les Harpes Camac Font Leur Festival

Les Harpes Camac Font Leur Festival: The Harp in Belfort

Belfort had the honor of hosting the Camac Harps Festival in 2018, an international event organized by Camac Harps, one of the most prestigious harp manufacturers in the world. The Camac company, whose workshops have been based in France since 1972 under the impetus of Jakez François, chose Belfort and its Atria Congress Center to present a three-day program combining concerts, masterclasses, workshops, and conferences centered around this mythical instrument.

This traveling festival—Camac has also held it in Antibes, Toulouse, and other French and European cities—is much more than just a concert. It is a true community gathering for harpists from around the world, from beginners to professionals, who come together to share their passion, techniques, and repertoires in an atmosphere that is both studious and festive.

A Program Bridging Classical, Celtic, and Jazz

The Camac Harps festival is distinguished by the diversity of aesthetics represented. Far from being a traditional classical festival, it embraces the full richness of the harp repertoire: classical and baroque music, Celtic and folk harp, jazz and improvisation, world music, and contemporary creations are featured on stage and in workshops.

The 2018 Belfort edition is a perfect example: classical pianist and harpist Patrizia Tassini (Conservatory of Udine) shared the stage with the Celtic-jazz fusion group Maestral, the French rock band Paris'Clic, and the harpist-actress Sophie La Harpiste. This diversity of styles, brought together on the same stage, demonstrates the harp's ability to transcend genres and eras.

Masterclasses and Workshops

Beyond the concerts, the festival places great emphasis on masterclasses and practical workshops. Renowned teachers, such as Patrizia Tassini for classical harp and Anne Postic for Celtic harp, led sessions open to harpists of all levels, allowing everyone to improve and enrich their playing.

These educational moments, essential to the festival's identity, allow enthusiasts to interact with professionals and receive valuable advice in a supportive and stimulating environment. The Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental (CRD) of Belfort was closely involved in the organization, contributing with its students to the closing performance.

The Camac Manufacture: A French Artisanal Heritage

Behind the festival lies the unique story of Camac Harps, a French company that has been manufacturing state-of-the-art concert, Celtic, and electric harps since 1972, blending technology and craftsmanship. Jakez François, its president-founder, has made this manufacture a global benchmark in harp making, exporting French savoir-faire worldwide. The festival mirrors the company's ethos: demanding, passionate, and open to musical diversity.