Kobie du Plessis is a South African harpist based in Barcelona, Spain. Her passion for the harp is expressed in this rich and varied selection of harp music. Kobie likes to perform on her different harps (Celtic, Austrian Folk, and Concert). She gives regular recitals as a soloist and in chamber groups in Amsterdam, Salzburg, Munich, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Barcelona. She also teaches, and arranges folk music from around the world for the harp. Kobie majored in harp at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and was awarded scholarships for outstanding performance. She toured South America as harp soloist with the South African Broadcasting Corporation Junior Orchestra, and took master classes in Europe with harp virtuosi Edward Witsenburg and Susanna Mildonian. She has performed with the major symphony orchestras of South Africa, playing the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto and the Debussy Danses, and made recordings for South African Radio, included on her previous CD (En Bateau – music for flute and harp). She played in the orchestras that accompanied Luciano Pavarotti (S.A.) and José Carreras (Spain), and performed with Dutch harpist Edward Witsenburg, in Barcelona, and has judged a harp competition and taught in Austria. Apart from performing in South Africa and Europe, Kobie is interested in performing wherever it is possible to get hold of a harp and a performance room! She loves to perform and be in touch with her audience - or "touch" them with the special "magic" of harp music! REVIEWS write-up by Mark Hinchcliff: Kobie du Plessis’ three-harp concert in the IEN Auditori (Barcelona) was a wonderfully refreshing evening of dazzling musical illumination. From the hauntingly mellow ancient airs of the medieval Celtic harp, through a wide range of international evergreens on the Austrian folkharp, to the soaring symphonic virtuosity of the concert harp, Kobie held her audience entranced and enraptured throughout. From such a treasury of music past and present it is both difficult and unfair to single out individual items. But I shall follow Kobie’s future concert schedule keenly, hoping once again to hear the strains of Grandjany’s “3 Petit Pieces”, the ringing echoing birdcalls of the Amazonian “Pajaro Campana”, Glinka’s sparkling “Variations on a theme of Mozart”, and the loungy “Sweet Blues”, to mention but a few. Thank you Kobie, for providing that evasive instance of “time was away and somewhere else”, with struggles and recession relegated to a transient oblivion, whilst one was seduced by an infusion of trouvere melodies, folksongs from distant lands and eras, and brilliant classical works. - Mark Hinchcliff Letter from President of BWN : Dear Kobie, On behalf of BWN and the charities that we support, thank you for your fantastic concert last night. I enjoyed the repertoire and so did all the attendees to whom I talked afterwards. We all appreciated your performance. In short, a great success! I hope that you would be available for another concert in the future. -BWN Charities wrote: We had a delightful evening last Thursday with a music tour of the world that Kobie du Plessis prepared for us with her harps. Everybody enjoyed her music. On behalf of the charity organisations that BWN supports, thank you very much to Kobie. -Jose Miguel wrote: Thanks a lot for the concert. It was exceptional, beautiful and … I don’t have words. I’m very happy to listen this special music. Valerie Collins, author and creative writing teacher, wrote: “Kobie du Plessis’s three-harp concert (IEN Auditorium, Barcelona) was both delightful entertainment and a musical revelation, showing how many different kinds of music can be successfully adapted for this instrument less familiar to the general public. From traditional Welsh airs to the vibrant rhythms of Mexico and South America to Russia and France, the audience reveled in Kobie’s talent, versatility and infectious passion for her music and her harps”. -V. Collins, Barcelona. “Ms. Du Plessis is the most proficient and virtuoso player of the Harp, an instrument we do not have many opportunities to listen to. With impeccable technique and feeling, she obtains a most evocative and spiritual music . She plays three instruments: the Celtic harp, small and primitive whose sound that reminds you of the Minstrels. The Folk harp, playful and good for parties where she can play any tune. It is though, a very complicated instrument to perform with as many as seven pedals. Finally, the jewel of the crown is her huge, majestic Concert harp for classical music. Ms Du Plessis is also a singer and with very pleasant and velvety voice and accompanies some of her songs on the harp. Her concerts are a real treat for all kind of audiences. We are very lucky in Barcelona to have such a rare and wonderful performer”. Ana Aguilar, Barcelona. 24th of January, 2014 After "Harp Concert with Kobie du Plessis" in the Helderberg Church in Somerset-West, South Africa, P J Kok wrote: Comments of Kobie´s Concert in Helderberg Church Dit was so mooi om jou in aksie te sien Kobie; ’n fees vir die oor, oog en hart!. Net na Salzedo se Lied in die nag kon Elna ( Elna Kok) dit hie meer hou nie en nog voor die gehoor begin hande klap laat waai sy met “Kobie! nou weet ek waarom die engele op harpe speel”. En jy klim uit agter die harp en kom gee vir haar ’n drukkie. ’n Mooi oomblik! O ja, amper vergeet ek, jy het die klassieke musiek-aand begin met Sarie Marais! Spesiale versoek van jou ma Suzie wat vir die eerste keer in 9 jaar ’n vertoning kon meemaak. Ons het dit geniet hoor! Kom maar weer Kobie - ons sal daar wees om in die “magic” te deel. Translation: It was great to see you in action Kobie, a feast for the ear, eye and heart! Just after playing Salzedo´s Song in the Night, Elna (Kok) could not hold it out any longer, and in front of the audience started to clap hands and said: ”Kobie, now I know why angels play on harps”. And you got out behind the harp to go and give her a hug. A beautiful moment! Oh yes, before I forget, you started the classical musical evening with Sarie Marais! (An Afrikaans Traditional Song).On special request from your Mum Suzie, who was able to attend a performance of you, for the first time in 9 years. We enjoyed it very much! Come again Kobie – we will be there to share the “magic”. From Johan Kok.