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.
ON LINE LESSONS NOW AVAILABLE & PROVING POPULAR

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.

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.

Jane Lister

London and Sussex
Jane Lister is well known as both a soloist and an orchestral harpist. She has wide experience accompanying choirs and has recorded and broadcast on television and radio with groups as diverse as Westminster Abbey Choir, St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir, St. Alban’s Abbey Choir, Winchester Cathedral Choir ,the B.B.C. Singers, The Sixteen, Finchley Children’s Music Group , the Vienna Boy’s Choir, the Töltzer Boys Choir and others.
Jane has also appeared in review, at the Chichester Festival and in the West End, on recordings with the late Ravi Shankar, in “Chants of India “and recorded with George Harrison and his son Dhani.  Jane has also accompanied artists including Kiri te Kanawa and Renée Flemming and played under many distinguished conductors including the late Leonard Bernstein in performances of” the Chichester Psalms”. Jane also played in Chichester Cathedral in the Southern Cathedrals Festival performance of this piece.
As an orchestral harpist, Jane’s main work has been in the world of opera and ballet. Jane has been the harpist with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Garsington Opera and Scottish Opera and has frequently been invited to play as guest principal harpist with the Göthenberg Opera in Sweden and with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. Jane plays with the B.B.C. Concert Orchestra and the B.B.C. National Orchestra of Wales on a freelance basis and has worked with most of the other major orchestras. She has been invited to play with the World Orchestra for Peace since its inception. Jane has wide experience of light music, playing in West End shows, on film soundtracks and in sessions. Jane’s playing has graced many high profile occasions in Royal Palaces, stately homes, fashion shows, art exhibitions and at celebrity weddings!
A graduate of Girton College Cambridge, Jane studied the harp firstly with the legendary Sidonie Goossens, then with Françette Bartholomée at the Brussels Conservatoire, where she was awarded the Premier Prix.Jane also has teaching qualifications from the University of London. In addition to playing, Jane teaches in London and Sussex, at Francis Holland School, Roedean School and at Westminster School. She is often chosen to adjudicate at Festivals and has wide experience of students of various standards and ages. Jane is also an examiner. Many of her students have obtained music scholarships and awards.
janelister@pobox.com
07974 945483

Alexander Rider

BN11
https://www.facebook.com/interestingharp/

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.

Heather Wrighton

BN13
Heather was inspired to play the harp at the age of six and as a junior student at Trinity College of Music she studied harp with Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly and continued her studies at The Royal Academy of Music, London with Karen Vaughan graduating with an MA with Distinction, BMus (Hons) and LRAM. 

From a young age Heather has been interested in different types of harps and in addition to the Classical Harp plays Celtic, Baroque triple and Paraguayan Harps. 

Heather currently freelances as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician which has led her to perform at prestigious concert venues including The Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Glyndebourne Opera House, Kensington Palace and St James’ Palace. As an active chamber musician Heather is a member of The London Harp Quartet, The Aurora Trio (flute, viola, harp) and The Acacia Flute and Harp Duo. 

Heather has featured on a number of recordings including composer Paul Patterson’s CD ‘Harp Gallery’ which showcases his works for harp, and most recently a recording for Rick Wakeman and a number of video game sound-tracks including the award winning ‘Total War’ series.

As well as performing Heather is passionate about teaching and is an LRAM qualified harp teacher. She teaches students of all ages from complete beginners to advanced levels at her home in West Sussex. 
07519205942
heathertheharper@aol.com

Anna Wynne​

TN5
Waiting for Biography
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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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. 
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You can update and edit your advert at any time by emailing events@pilgrimharps.co.uk