The harp used to break the Guinness World Record for the highest harp concert is a ‘Janet’ Camac harp, which weights around 11 kg; this instrument must be carried up the mountain by four team members in a specially adapted case with four ‘pole’ handles.
Added to that, the concert are held at an elevation of approx. 5,000 m or 16,000 ft and above, at which height oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is greatly reduced, with around half the oxygen density found at sea or ground level.
This means that holding the highest harp concert is no trivial task, but an arduous and challenging ascent that requires adequate preparation on the part of all our team members, and even then carries risk – so we spend many hours in physical preparation.
Hypoxic Training
The Delta Sports Dome Altitude Centre in Limerick, Ireland is the first ever high altitude training centre to open in the country.
The Centre is a sealed room that reduces oxygen concentration for health benefits, enhanced aerobic training, and high-altitude training.
Sean and Siobhan visited the Dome Altitude Centre regularly in preparation for the highest harp concert.
Training in this simulated low-oxygen environment helped them to prepare for the conditions in the Himalayas.
Climbing Ireland
In addition to hypoxic training, multiple mountaineering excursions were undertaken locally in Ireland in preparation for the highest harp climb.
Ireland’s mountains are of a much smaller scale, with the highest, Carruantoohill in County Kerry, reaching 1,039 m or approximately 3,400 ft.
Nonetheless, they provided a great training ground for the team to prepare both physically and mentally in advance of the Himalayas.
Adequately prepared, we set off for the Himalayas for our first major climb, with the aim of setting the world record for highest harp concert.
Ladakh, India
Before the ascent, we stopped off in Leh, the capital and largest city of the Ladakh region far in the north of India, at the base of the Himalayas.
Leh was a nice place to recuperate after our journey from Ireland and other countries, and to gather our strength before making the climb.
While there, we visited SECMOL – The Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh – an institution founded in 1988 by a group of young Ladakhis with the aim of reforming the educational system of Ladakh, promoting traditional Ladakhi culture, and environmental sustainability.
There, pre- and post-ascent concerts were held between Neil Latchman and Siobhan Brady, and Neil’s composition, ‘Baadal Badal’, was debuted.
Singla Pass, Himalayas
And finally, we reached our destination – above the summit of Singla Pass, the world record for highest harp concert was set.
Our altimeter read 4,755 m, but this was later corrected by Google Earth to 4,954 m!
You can watch the performance below, with excellent footage provided by our cameraman and videographer for the concert, Chip Phillips.
A New World Record
Mission accomplished! The Highest Harp Concert was performed at 4,954 m on the 6th of September 2018 above the summit of Singla pass, Himalayas, Ladakh, India.
This was done in collaboration with Desmond Gentle on his work to raise funds and awareness for Cystitis Fibrosis through music and altitude.
In recognition for the record breaking achievement, the Guinness World Record for the Highest Altitude Harp Performance was awarded to Siobhan Brady and the team.
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis
So far, we have raised over €15,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Our goal is to eventually raise over €100,000 to go towards funding research and providing treatment and care for those living with Cystic Fibrosis, both in Ireland and around the world.
A New World Record
Mission accomplished! The Highest Harp Concert was performed at 4,954 m on the 6th of September 2018 above the summit of Singla pass, Himalayas, Ladakh, India.
This was done in collaboration with Desmond Gentle on his work to raise funds and awareness for Cystitis Fibrosis through music and altitude.
In recognition for the record breaking achievement, the Guinness World Record for the Highest Altitude Harp Performance was awarded to Siobhan Brady and the team.
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis
So far, we have raised over €15,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Our goal is to eventually raise over €100,000 to go towards funding research and providing treatment and care for those living with Cystic Fibrosis, both in Ireland and around the world.
A New World Record
Mission accomplished! The Highest Harp Concert was performed at 4,954 m on the 6th of September 2018 above the summit of Singla pass, Himalayas, Ladakh, India.
This was done in collaboration with Desmond Gentle on his work to raise funds and awareness for Cystitis Fibrosis through music and altitude.
In recognition for the record breaking achievement, the Guinness World Record for the Highest Altitude Harp Performance was awarded to Siobhan Brady and the team.
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis
So far, we have raised over €15,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Our goal is to eventually raise over €100,000 to go towards funding research and providing treatment and care for those living with Cystic Fibrosis, both in Ireland and around the world.
The journey didn’t end at Singla Pass, Ladakh, but had its grand opening there, igniting our ambition to take the cause further.
We are setting our sights on new peaks around the world to break the record we set and to continue generating vital funds in aid of Cystic Fibrosis.
Mount Fuji, Japan
Our first goal is to climb Mount Fuji, in Japan, being Japan’s tallest mountain.
With a height of 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft), it won’t outdo the record we set at Singla Pass, but it will be another challenge and a great way to continue the momentum and gain more experience before our intended record-breaking climb in Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania afterwards.
We had originally planned to climb Mount Fuji in Summer 2022, though this plan was scuppered due to Covid-19 travel restrictions to Japan.
We now have our sights set on travelling to Japan and making the climb in Summer 2023.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
After Mount Fuji, the team’s intention is to break their own record and achieve another high altitude harp performance at the peak of Kilimanjaro in Summer 2023 at an elevation of 5,895 m, with Siobhan playing the Celtic harp.
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis
We intend to raise further funds for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland through our concerts on Mount Fuji and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Our initial goal is to raise €100,000 for the foundation, assisting research into treatment and palliative care for people living with Cystic Fibrosis.