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Song title: Sgt. Early's Dream
Marta Cook
Marta Cook has played the Irish or Celtic harp from a young age and is widely considered one of the world's finest harpers. In 2001, she won first prize at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, Irish music's world championship competition, becoming the first recipient of the Peter and Margaret Nalty Memorial Trophy, and has had a hand in training virtually every other American prizewinner in harp since 2000. Since then, she has toured the US several times, notably with Tomaseen Foley as part of his critically acclaimed traditional arts showcase "A Celtic Christmas," establishing a reputation for the originality of her arrangements and improvisations, particularly with respect to accompaniment of traditional music. Most recently, she has recorded for the Sony Classical label , collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma and Natalie MacMaster.
Marta's primary teacher is Maire Ni Chathasaigh from Bandon Co. Cork; she also attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts where she studied for her degree in harp performance with Sarah Bullen of the Chicago Symphony. As a classical musician, Marta has served as principal harpist of ensembles including the DePaul Opera Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, Chicago's Millennium Chamber Players, and the Ginn Resorts Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra. Since 2003, she has been the youngest sponsored artist of William Rees Instruments LLC, alongside top international Celtic soloists including Maire Ni Chathasaigh, Annemarie O'Farrell and Janet Harbison. She currently resides in New York City and is at work on her debut solo album.
"I've never heard anyone play the harp like that before!" --Legendary piper Paddy Keenan on Marta Cook, March 2008