10/08/2026
We had a great time at the World Harp Congress and One Harp World in Toronto! Our head of harp Imogen Barford met up with old friends, and students past and present!
Guildhall School Harp Department
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Welcome to the dynamic Harp Department at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, UK
30/06/2026
Congratulations to our junior department professor Harriet Adie on the publication of her six movement suite for harp ‘Under the Apple Tree’.
The suite is composed for pedal harp harpists at ABRSM grade 6-7 level and each movement describes the trees traditionally found in an old English orchard.
The title piece appears on the ABRSM grade 6 syllabus and also exists in a version for harp duo.
Harriet has written many beautiful and imaginative works for lever and pedal harp, chamber and multiple harps as well as a series of essential sight-reading books. All her music can be found via her website www.harrietadie.com
29/06/2026
Saying hello to the summer holiday and goodbye to another academic year! Our students and professors will be attending and teaching on summer schools, heading to Toronto to One Harp World, giving concerts and of course…practising!
27/06/2026
The second day of our summer harp festival was orchestral audition training with our special guest Heidi Krutzen from the Philharmonia Orchestra. Heidi was joined by our orchestral professor Bryn Lewis (LSO) for a screened audition of prepared excerpts. In round 2, the screen was removed so we had the chance to reflect on the difference in the way we played and listened. Heidi gave us some valuable feedback and tips and answered our many questions about the process.
Congratulations to third year student Grace who was the overall ‘winner’ of the audition and thank you to Salvi London who sponsored the event!
26/06/2026
Here are some more highlights from day 1 of our harp festival this week.
During the afternoon we were treated to an enchanting recital of music for Lyre by Lina Palera and Theodoros Koumartzis from the Seikilo Culture Organisation. Postgraduate student Eleanor Medcalf celebrated the harp music of Benjamin Britten with help from Ellie, Emily, Arwen, Susan and Matilda in performances of his songs, the Interlude and Suite for harp.
Our chamber recital featured contemporary works by Musgrave and McGuire and a world premiere trio by Benji Gronlie.
Finally, we listened to a fascinating lecture-recital from our celebrity guest Sioned Williams on the life and music of John Thomas.
It was a day of outstanding music making, celebrating the harp from its origins to the present day.
25/06/2026
Highlights from the first day of our summer harp festival, more to come! It was hot, the music was wonderful and we all tried to play the Lyre…
Thank you for the beautiful music Lina, Theodoros, Joy and Jorge.
16/06/2026
Just under 1 week to go until our 2026 Summer Harp Festival, who is coming along?
All events are free but please send us a message if you would like to come to the Lyre workshop. The recital by Sioned Williams is fully booked.
12/06/2026
Our Harp Festival Monday lunchtime concert is FORGOTTEN ROADS - A Journey Through Music and Story with Joy Smith (historical harps).
Come and listen to musical treasures of the past, brought to life on historical harps.
GSMD Professor of Historical Harps, Joy Smith, takes on the role of a modern-day troubadour, combining performance and storytelling to reveal the worlds behind the music. Each piece is rooted in its time—songs of love, loss, devotion, and defiance—once heard in courts, chapels, and beyond. From haunting laments to lively dances, Forgotten Roads traces the paths these melodies have travelled, and returns them to the present.
‘So improvisatory and spontaneous. Very very exciting.’
Sean Rafferty - BBC Radio 3
Free entry!
10/06/2026
Guildhall Harp Festival 2026
The 2026 festival opens with a chance to meet the ancestors in a hands-on workshop with Ancient Greek Lyres!
All the way from Greece, we are delighted to welcome Lina Palera and Theodorus Koumartzis from the Seikilo Culture Organisation who will guide us in the playing of authentic replicas of the harp’s ancient ancestors. You can come along and join in! There is no cost for this workshop but please email [email protected] to book a place.
08/06/2026
Next week, our head of harp Imogen Barford will be visiting Stephen Fitzpatrick’s class at the Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria for Stephen Fitzpatrick’s class for a masterclass and classes on memorising and virtuosity.
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Silk Street, Barbican
London
EC2Y8DT