Isabel Ainsworth

RH1
Isabel is an award-winning harpist currently based in Surrey and performs across England. She’s been playing the harp since she was four-years-old and as a key member of the National Youth Harp Orchestra of Great Britain (NYHO) for 14 years, in which she was Section Leader, Co-Leader and ultimately Leader. She has enjoyed performing at a variety of concert venues including St Johns Smiths Square, Cadogan Hall, St James’s Church Piccadilly and Menhuin Hall. 
Her ensemble career has taken her around the UK, Europe and the United States, performing in numerous beautiful venues including Albi Cathedral in the South of France and St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest. One of her key achievements was playing Mahler’s 6th Symphony at The Royal Festival Hall as part of the Duet Philharmonic Orchestra.
Isabel has also supported the musical director with the Junior Section of the NYHO in which she taught 15 young harpists, aged 5-11, helping them build their ensemble and performing skills. 
Isabel was also awarded the Most Promising Harpist award from the Four Girls Four Harps at just age 13.
Having achieved her Grade 8 at 13, she has attained her Diploma from the London College of Music and has spent her time widening her solo repertoire. 
She’s a very versatile harpist with an eye for sight-reading, and would be able to accommodate any specific music requests, so would be a great addition to any event or concert.

Kirsty Anderson

RH1
Photo and Biography coming soon. 

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

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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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. 

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.

Floralyn George

KT5
13 years of academic classical training and contemporary music on Harp
Teaching experience: 3 years

Rebeca Jones​

RH1
Photo and Biography coming soon. 

Alexandra King

BN43
Alexandra is an experienced and versatile harpist based near Brighton, Sussex. She has enjoyed a varied career so far performing all over the country for international corporations, MP's, celebrities and royalty.
Previous engagements include performances for HM Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to the University of Huddersfield, live on television for Channel 4's popular cooking and chat show Sunday Brunch, and at a party hosted by Robert Smith (The Cure). Corporate bookings have included numerous performances for RBS, the Football Association, and also PRS for Music where she played alongside Rick Wakeman for guests including Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Sir John Tavener and John Rutter. She has worked at many prestigious venues such as  The Houses of Parliament, Wembley Stadium, St Alban's Cathedral, Glyndebourne Opera House and Hampton Court Palace.

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​ ​​

Alice Trentham

TW10
Photo and Biography coming soon. 

Amy Turk

Surrey
Amy Turk began her harp studies aged seven with Ann Hughes-Chamberlain, a former pupil of the legendary Lily Laskine, and completed a masters degree under the tutorship of Karen Vaughan at the Royal Academy of Music.

Amy grew up with a love of a wide variety of music thanks to her parent's record collection, and could be found listening to Grieg or Rachmaninoff as readily as Genesis, Led Zeppelin or Dire Straits. In her teens she became enthralled by transcription, arranging, composition and music technology, and spent much time performing and recording with her brother, drummer/guitarist Ben Turk, in various projects including power metal band Sorcerer’s Spell, and their own duo project Ben & Amy, under which they released two surrealist pop albums, Science (2007) and The New Food To Eat (2009).
​
Having consolidated her skills at the Academy, Amy now arranges pop, rock, film and video game music for the harp, and explores her fascination of guitar based music by writing percussive contemporary acoustic solo harp works in the style of modern acoustic guitar icons such as Andy McKee and Jon Gomm. Her work is available to view on YouTube

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 

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- Contact number
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