Fran Barsby​

PO20

Resident Harpist Pilgrim Harps 
Fran is a professional harpist based in West Sussex, UK. 
She enjoys a busy career as the Director of PoppyHarp and as a Professional Solo Harpist.

Fran graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2015. She has enjoyed performing in venues such as Royal Albert Hall, St Johns Smith Square, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester Minerva Theatre and many more.
Fran has competed in and won many competitions including West Sussex Musician of the Year in 2011. Her solo and ensemble career with groups such as the International Harp Ensemble, and various chamber groups and orchestras has taken her around Europe.  
During her studies, Fran has enjoyed learning from teachers including Catherine White, Gabriella Dall'Olio, David Watkins, Imogen Barford, Skaila Kanga, Louisa Maria Cordell, Charlotte Seale, and Anne Hughes Chamberlain. 

Fran has been teaching the harp for over 15 years. She currently teaches privately and has previously enjoyed teaching in schools; The Blue Coat School, Kimichi Independent Secondary School, Perry Beeches ii, Kings High School for Girls and Warwick Preparatory School.  Fran ensures all her students have regular opportunities to perform and runs termly student concerts. Fran teaches privately from her harp studio. Fran also enjoys working with various charities and projects such as the Harp On Wight Festival. 

Fran specialises in modern and pop music. However, sh​e is classically trained and enjoys performing an eclectic range of music. 
fbarsby@poppyharp.com
07713907808

Jenny Broome

SW11
Jenny Broome studied the harp with Daphne Boden and later with Renata Scheffel-Stein while reading Architecture at Cambridge University.  As a student she had some wonderful musical experiences, including performing the War Requiem in King’s College Chapel as part of the chamber orchestra conducted by David Hill, appearing at the Aldeburgh Festival in a chamber opera by Matthew Best, and at the Edinburgh Fringe in Britten’s Rape of Lucretia.  Jenny now has a busy freelance career as a harpist.  Highlights have come from surprising directions: working for the Royal Shakespeare Company for Richard Jones’ production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with music by Jonathan Dove, and much later giving the first public performance at very short notice of Dove’s opera Seven Angels for two voices and harp; working with composer Ed Lambert on various chamber works; collaborating with violinist Frances Mason; working with Andrew Parrott to record Berlioz’ trio from the Childhood of Christ; being part of the team for Stowe Opera’s magical production of Rusalka; emotional performances of Peter Grimes with Richard Hickox at the Endellion Festival. 

​Jenny delights in playing chamber music and works regularly with Trio Sospiroso (flute,cello and harp), Arpatagora (strings and harp) and Arcangeli (harp duet).  It is always a particular pleasure to be asked back, and Jenny has been invited to perform at the Harp on Wight Festival in 2014 and 2016, and is delighted to be back at the Buckingham Festival this year.  She has appeared as a soloist in concertos by Mozart, Handel, Debussy, Frank Martin, Bruch, and Ginastera.
 
Recordings include So Sweet a Melody for Somm, with the Hildegard Choir and soprano Emily van Evera; “Summer was in August”, with flautist Rachel Smith, for Campion Cameo; music by Paul Carr for Claudio Records; Francis Grier’s oratorio ‘Around the Curve of the World’ for Somm and Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.  Jenny’s most recent project is a recording with Frances Mason of Victorian music for violin and harp written for the Eissler sisters.
 
 Jenny is keen to encourage the composition of new music for the harp and has worked with various composers, especially Edward Lambert, who has written three exciting new harp works: Concerto Cubico, for trombone, marimba and harp, Short Story, for flute viola and harp, and Speed Matters for violin and harp. 

Ramona Egle

CT6
Ramona is an accomplished, professional harpist/musician/singer and has been performing for 20 years and teaching for over 10. She plays a beautiful Pilgrim Clarsach and also an Alexander Blazdell Victorian Gothic Concert Harp. Her repertoire spans Celtic, classical, traditional and popular modern pieces.
Much in demand playing for weddings and events in Kent, across the South East and throughout the UK, Ramona travels extensively, performing in many stunning venues including: Leeds Castle, Allington Castle, Chewton Glen, Lympne Castle, Whitstable Castle, and Eastwell Manor to name but a few.
Ramona also performs at concerts, cultural events, handfastings, civil partnerships, garden parties, corporate events, funerals, welcoming ceremonies and with storytellers in schools.

Alongside her performing career Ramona is one of Kent’s leading tutors enjoying a busy teaching schedule with students of all ages and from all walks of life. Some students are working towards ABRSM exams whilst others are learning simply for pleasure. As well as teaching technique she will help you on your musical journey and to play music that you enjoy. She encourages students to be creative and to explore how to arrange, compose and perform music. Ramona is a specialist tutor of Celtic lever harp and also teaches beginner/intermediate pedal harp and music theory.
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Fiona Hosford
'A gifted and experienced harpist, Fiona is based in the South East of England but her work takes her throughout the UK and abroad.
She performs at a huge range of functions - weddings, corporate events, car launches and other social and private events have all been entertained by Fiona and her Harp.
Specialising in "playing outside the Harpbox of tunes" - Fiona is well known for putting the extra effort into making sure that a client's taste in music is adhered to. Her repertoire is vast and ranges from recognisable Classical pieces (ie: from films and adverts), Jazz standards (such as Gershwin, Carmichael, Porter and Kern) through to more contemporary pieces - Coldplay, Sting, Elton John, Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Guns n Roses and many more!
Having studied the piano, violin and singing, she settled on the Harp at 6 years old, and it soon became apparent that the other instruments were secondary to her interest in the Harp.
Over the years she has gained extensive experience performing throughout the UK and abroad, including residencies in Cyprus and aboard cruise ships.
Her varied repertoire has delighted a wide range of clients and her soothing and uplifting music played on her Harp has added an air of refinement and relaxation.
Fiona also performs for a number of talks and afternoon teas in her local area for a wide genre of clientele and also is a supporter of the Macmillan Cancer Charity and performs for fundraising Concerts on their behalf.
Affectionately described as the most friendly, 'normal' Harpist about, Fiona is blessed with a strong sense of humour and a personality to match. With this coupled up and a sympathetic musical ear, this ensures that the client is given a first class musical service with regards to their special occasion.
Her professionalism is evident throughout her attitude to playing and providing a first class service for each event.
Whether it be playing for your Ceremony, Drinks Reception, Wedding Breakfast or the 'Whole Day' option, Fiona prides herself on providing a personal and friendly service.
(Amplification is also available with her Harp, which then gives the Harp an extra boost of musical power over any noise - this is particularly good for over 120 guests!)
So - you've chosen the date and venue, what could be more atmospheric and romantic than having a Harpist to entertain you and your guests?
A harp provides a fantastic romantic atmosphere and also makes a great focal point as well amongst guests.
Once booked for an event, Fiona suggests to then have a chat about any musical preferences that the client may have, or she can suggest items to listen to. Classic FM and borrowing CDs from your local library are a good cost effective idea, as buying wedding CDs can be expensive and not all pieces are suitable to play on the Harp!
She offers Skype consultations and also invites clients to hear her her play at her house (by appointment only).
On Fiona’s website, you will find a plethora of information, including video clips, sound bytes, Hotels that use her as a preferred supplier, reviews from Clients an enquiry form and much more – she’s more than happy to help.

Zanna Evans

SW11
Zanna Evans is a versatile freelance harpist currently based in London. She has performed at a variety of venues including The Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall.  She loves performing and collaborating with other artists and plays a variety of music. Zanna particularly loves latin and jazz which grew through being part of the International Jazz Foundation.She has attended several of their Academies, most recently in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in 2014. Zanna studied at the Federal University in Rio, Brazil in 2013 with Cristina Braga and released her debut album, Dreams Rising in April 2014, a collection of Latin American songs in collaboration with Brazilian artists.  She is a founding member of bi monthly Jazz jams across London working with Brenda Dor Groot and Tara Minton. Zanna regularly plays at weddings and functions throughout the UK and is also busy private teaching students who range from 5 years to adult. 

Valeria Kurbatova

NW9
​​​Valeria Kurbatova is an award-winning London based harpist – specialising in both solo harp performances and orchestral harp. She regularly plays for the likes of London Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Contemporary Orchestra and is also principal harpist in the London Electronic Orchestra. Regularly performing at high profile events, Valeria has played for audiences ranging from HRH Prince of Wales to the Rolling Stones. Valeria’s radio and TV appearances include performances for BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, Classic FM, Russia Today TV, WNYC Radio and Kultura TV and Netflix.She had her solo debut at the age of nine at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire. Since then Valeria has performed as a soloist and in ensemble groups in numerous concerts, in a vast range of concert halls including: Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall,The Barbican, V&A Museum, The Forge, The Roundhouse, The National Gallery, The Houses of Parliament, Cadogan Hall, Kensington Palace and Westroad Hall.
As a soloist, Valeria has won prizes at a number of different International harp and music competitions such as: Scholarships from New Names Foundation, and Spivakov International Foundation, harp prize at the International Harp Competition in Moscow and Young Talent Award at the Moscow Music Festival.
Passionate about teaching and outreach work Valeria has obtained an
ABRSM Teaching diploma and has been giving harp lessons privately in London since 2011 as well as doing workshops in schools and playing recitals in hospitals. Valeria is hub ambassador for harp at the London Philarmonic Orchestra and works with Royal Greenwich, Southwark and Lambeth Councils in London. Valeria is also a harp teacher at the London Russian Music School and the Mountview Academy.

Counties covered: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Oxfordshire and Surrey​ ​​

Katie Salomon

SP2
Katie Salomon (née Flanaghan) is a professional harpist based in South-West England. In 2008 she gained a Bachelor’s degree in harp from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied with Charlotte Seale. After graduating Katie went on to study with Sioned Williams, Principal Harp of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Katie has recorded with record labels including Deutsche Grammophon,Universal, Decca and Demon records, for artists including Aled Jones, Camilla Kerslake, Celeste and The Choir Girl. Other recordings with choir include performances of Bernstein Chichester Psalms and Janacek Otce nas
Katie began her musical career as a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral, directed by Dr Richard Seal and Simon Lole. Her first harp teacher was Morfen Edwards.
Katie is now much in demand as a harpist, with a diverse career that has seen her perform at venues as diverse as Buckingham Palace, the Royal Society of Medicine, London Guildhall, Wembley Pavilion Arena and the Royal Institute of British Architects with highlights being solo stage performances for the Wimbledon Champions’ Award Ceremony and the Rugby World Cup, and premiering Gary Carpenter’s Azaleas which went on to win a British Composer Award.YesYes
Available for events in: Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Katie McClaughry 
I am a freelance harp and trumpet player living in Cornwall and working across the south of England.  I offer a friendly, professional service providing instrumental music for a wide range of private and corporate events.
Music is my passion. I have been playing the harp and the trumpet for over twenty years, during which time I have amassed a wealth of experience and gained an extensive repertoire of solo, chamber and orchestral works.  
Most recently I have studied the harp with the internationally renowned harpists Gabriella Dall'Olio, Head of Harp Studies at Trinity College of Music and Catherine White, Professor of Harp at the Royal Academy of Music and the natural trumpet with John Hutchins of the Royal Academy of Music. 
In 2009 I graduated from Cambridge University with a Masters degree.

Nicola Veal

KT17
Nicola is a harpist based in Surrey, but who performs across the South East of England. She began piano lessons at the age of four, later taking up the flute and after achieving grade eight examinations on both of these she started to play the harp. She graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Music (majoring in Harp Performance) and since then has achieved the Licentiate of Trinity College London with Distinction for Harp Performance. Nicola is now a free-lance harpist, playing at numerous functions and concerts throughout the year whilst enjoying a busy teaching schedule.
Nicola currently spends the majority of her time working in the luxury wedding industry. In 2013 she was chosen as one of ‘Britains’ 10 Best Harpists’ by Bride Magazine, which helped to launch her career and now travels around a wide area to some of the country’s most prestigious venues to provide romantic music for wedding ceremonies and receptions. She specialises in working closely with couples to perform their precise music choices for their special day by arranging their music choices specially for the harp. This means that she is known for her wide-ranging repertoire and alongside her professional approach to her work, she is recommended by numerous venues and wedding professionals across the South East of England.
For a full list of harpists in your area Please contact Pilgrim Harps on 01342 893242 or email info@pilgrimharps.co.uk 

Would you like to be listed on our 'find a harpist' pages?

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For more information or to submit your advert email Fran at events@pilgrimharps.co.uk

For the best advert possible you will need to send:
- A short biography max 250 words.
- Contact number
- Contact email
- First part of your post code and the areas you cover. 
- A promotional shot of yourself. 

You can update and edit your advert at any time by emailing events@pilgrimharps.co.uk