Skaila Kanga is renowned for her work in the studio world of records, films and TV and for over twenty-five years, Skaila has been the solo harpist of the Nash Ensemble, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and more recently the London Mozart Players, where her chamber performances and recordings have received worldwide acclaim. In February 2003, Skaila, who is head of harp studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London, was made a Professor of the University of London.
Edward Witsenburg is the doyen of Dutch harpists. His career extends over more than half a century. He continues the tradition set forth by the celebrated Dutch harpist, Rosa Spier, who was famous for her expressive style of playing. After ten years of playing in various symphony orchestras, he devoted himself to teaching the harp, together with a solo career. He was a member of the teaching staff at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague for forty years. He was appointed professor at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, a position which he held for fourteen years. He is much sought after internationally as a teacher and has given numerous master classes and courses in many countries all over the world. He has made many recordings on LP and later CD, using instruments from his extensive private collection and was one of the founder members of the Netherlands Harp Society, which he chaired for six years. Edward Witsenburg was made a Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau for his services to music and, in particular, to the harp.
Robert Swain was born in Cardiff in 1947. He studied composition with Alun Hoddinott and analysis of 20th century music with Arnold Whittall at University College of Wales, Cardiff. He has held a number of teaching and lecturing posts during his career and was appointed HM Inspector for Education and Training (Wales) in 1989. Although most of his professional life has been involved with music in education, he has always been active as an experienced and talented composer, arranger and performer. Commissions received over the last three decades include a BBC European Music Year Commission, performed at the BBC Wales St.David's Festival, the Swansea Festival, the Vale of Glamorgan Festival as well as at most London Venues. Artists performing his works include the Dartington and Endellion String Quartets, The Fires of London (under Peter Maxwell Davies), the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, the London 20th Century Ensemble and the Welsh Brass Consort. Almost all the world premieres were broadcast by BBC Radio 3.
Valerie Aldrich-Smith was born in Powys, Wales. She received a B.Mus. from Birmingham University and completed her harp studies with Ann Griffiths at the Welsh College of Music and Drama gaining the Advanced Diploma for performance. Currently, she is principal harpist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a post she has held for twenty years, as well as a regular tutor for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the University of Wales, Cardiff.
Katey Thomas studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and has played with many of Britain’s professional orchestras. She plays regularly for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Garsington Opera and Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
Gillian Green hails from North Wales and was one of the first music students to enter Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester and furthered her music studies at University College, Cardiff. In addition to performing, she has tutored many promising young harpists and many of her students have been awarded top prizes at national music festivals. Gill is a co-director of Telynau Morgannwg.
Katherine Thomas was born in Pontypridd, South Wales. She began her harp studies with Alwenna Roberts and then Meinir Heulyn, continuing with David Watkins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Winner of several awards and scholarships, including the Blue Riband in the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Nansi Richards Memorial Scholarship, Katherine pursues a busy freelance career and frequently performs with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera.
Tony Bremner was born in Sydney in 1939, he studied piano at the NSW Conservatorium and moved to London in 1961. In 1968 he joined the Glyndebourne chorus as a tenor and remained there for ten years, until he changed to counter-tenor, when his first audition, at Covent Garden, landed him the job of understudy to James Bowman. In 2000 he won the Gregynog Composer of the Year prize with his Three Divine Poems of John Donne for chorus and piano. He has also conducted new recordings of classic film scores, including Lawrence of Arabia and The Big Country with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons with the Australian Philharmonic. His three films scores and In the Shrubbery have been released.
Alison Martin began playing the harp at Malvern Girls' College, and later studied both piano accompaniment and harp. She has been principal harp with the orchestra of English National Opera since 1984, and guest principal at Sydney Opera House as well as most London orchestras. She began arranging while she was a student playing background music (to entertain herself as much as anyone else) with repertoire ranging from Stevie Wonder to Mozart.
Edward Witsenburg is the doyen of Dutch harpists. His career extends over more than half a century. He continues the tradition set forth by the celebrated Dutch harpist, Rosa Spier, who was famous for her expressive style of playing. After ten years of playing in various symphony orchestras, he devoted himself to teaching the harp, together with a solo career. He was a member of the teaching staff at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague for forty years. He was appointed professor at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, a position which he held for fourteen years. He is much sought after internationally as a teacher and has given numerous master classes and courses in many countries all over the world. He has made many recordings on LP and later CD, using instruments from his extensive private collection and was one of the founder members of the Netherlands Harp Society, which he chaired for six years. Edward Witsenburg was made a Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau for his services to music and, in particular, to the harp.
Robert Swain was born in Cardiff in 1947. He studied composition with Alun Hoddinott and analysis of 20th century music with Arnold Whittall at University College of Wales, Cardiff. He has held a number of teaching and lecturing posts during his career and was appointed HM Inspector for Education and Training (Wales) in 1989. Although most of his professional life has been involved with music in education, he has always been active as an experienced and talented composer, arranger and performer. Commissions received over the last three decades include a BBC European Music Year Commission, performed at the BBC Wales St.David's Festival, the Swansea Festival, the Vale of Glamorgan Festival as well as at most London Venues. Artists performing his works include the Dartington and Endellion String Quartets, The Fires of London (under Peter Maxwell Davies), the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, the London 20th Century Ensemble and the Welsh Brass Consort. Almost all the world premieres were broadcast by BBC Radio 3.
Valerie Aldrich-Smith was born in Powys, Wales. She received a B.Mus. from Birmingham University and completed her harp studies with Ann Griffiths at the Welsh College of Music and Drama gaining the Advanced Diploma for performance. Currently, she is principal harpist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a post she has held for twenty years, as well as a regular tutor for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the University of Wales, Cardiff.
Katey Thomas studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and has played with many of Britain’s professional orchestras. She plays regularly for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Garsington Opera and Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
Gillian Green hails from North Wales and was one of the first music students to enter Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester and furthered her music studies at University College, Cardiff. In addition to performing, she has tutored many promising young harpists and many of her students have been awarded top prizes at national music festivals. Gill is a co-director of Telynau Morgannwg.
Katherine Thomas was born in Pontypridd, South Wales. She began her harp studies with Alwenna Roberts and then Meinir Heulyn, continuing with David Watkins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Winner of several awards and scholarships, including the Blue Riband in the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Nansi Richards Memorial Scholarship, Katherine pursues a busy freelance career and frequently performs with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera.
Tony Bremner was born in Sydney in 1939, he studied piano at the NSW Conservatorium and moved to London in 1961. In 1968 he joined the Glyndebourne chorus as a tenor and remained there for ten years, until he changed to counter-tenor, when his first audition, at Covent Garden, landed him the job of understudy to James Bowman. In 2000 he won the Gregynog Composer of the Year prize with his Three Divine Poems of John Donne for chorus and piano. He has also conducted new recordings of classic film scores, including Lawrence of Arabia and The Big Country with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons with the Australian Philharmonic. His three films scores and In the Shrubbery have been released.
Alison Martin began playing the harp at Malvern Girls' College, and later studied both piano accompaniment and harp. She has been principal harp with the orchestra of English National Opera since 1984, and guest principal at Sydney Opera House as well as most London orchestras. She began arranging while she was a student playing background music (to entertain herself as much as anyone else) with repertoire ranging from Stevie Wonder to Mozart.