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The first two paragraphs for this harpist may look
to be serious name-dropping, but if nothing else, it shows the very high level
of experience she has and the very high quality of musician she is.
Harpist NW03 has played
for/with : Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Vladimir
Ashkenazy, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, Rudolph Nureyev, Jose Carreras,
Carl Davis, Paul McCartney (performing his “Liverpool Oratorio” with the RLPO
in France), Sarah Walker, Renee Fleming, Midge Ure, in front of Diana Princess
of Wales, HRH Prince Charles, the Duchess of York, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother. She has performed at the Proms with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,
the Halle and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. She has played for West End shows
including The Sound of Music, (starring Christopher Cazenove), The King and I
(with Susan Hampshire) and the nationwide tour of Me and my Girl which starred
Gary Wilmot. She enjoys playing for opera, ballets, and chamber music
performances, and has worked with most orchestras and ballet companies in the
UK, including English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal ballet, Northern Ballet
Theatre, Opera North and Sinfonia Viva.
This harpist is one of the most
versatile and adaptable harpists performing in the UK. After gaining a degree in
music in her native New Zealand, she worked as resident harpist in the Hotel
Intercontinental in Bahrain. On completing an MA in music at the University of
Wales she returned to NZ for several years to work as Principal Harpist with the
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. She was also harpist in residence for New
Zealand Government House where she played for receptions and guests including
the Emir of Bahrain, the Governor-General of Fiji, and the Duke and Duchess of
Gloucester.
She has always enjoyed playing
the harp for weddings and corporate functions, and has a wide repertoire of many
different music styles. Requests she has most enjoyed learning for previous
clients have included the “Match of the Day” theme (for the marriage of a
professional footballer), and the theme from “Blackadder” as a groom’s surprise
to his friends. Her favourite musical memories include performing with the Band
of the Royal Marines (no shortage of helpful and muscular young men to help move
the harp) and playing Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” as a duo with BBC Radio 4
presenter Kathy Clugston on ukulele. |
