WALES
INTERNATIONAL
HARP
FESTIVAL

Benjamin Creighton Griffiths is an Internationally performing harpist based in Cardiff. Classically trained, Ben is in demand for his Electro-Acoustic Jazz Harp work, covering many different genres and using electronics to create unique performances. Benjamin's International engagements (2008 – 2018) included performances in Brazil, Canada, The Caribbean, Croatia, The Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Hong Kong, and the USA. Highlights of 2018 are the Musikene festival in San Sebastián, Spain and tuition in the Camac Netherlands Tour. Upcoming engagements include performances with Adrien Chevalier and Tatiana Eva Marie (New York) - and launching his new electronic fusion band - Chube.

The Palestrina Choir was formed by Dr Vincent O’Brien in 1903. A performance of Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli brought them to to the attention of patron Edward Martyn, who funded them to take up residence in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin. The choir has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the USA, and in 2013 sang at the Vatican during a Papal Mass in 2013, and again during a return trip in 2016. The choir has performed weekly under the direction of Dr Blanaid Murphy, with Solemn Latin Mass sung each Sunday and Vespers, Benediction and evening Mass sung by the boys of the choir on Fridays.

The harp programme at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama (Dublin, Ireland) encompasses both classical and/or Irish traditional music, with students pursuing study at junior, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Students specialise in either classical or Irish traditional harp through the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Performance and PhD programmes, studying with Denise Kelly McDonnell, Clíona Doris and Grainne Hambly. The harp programme is designed to encourage both solo and ensemble skills, and students participate in a wide range of ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Irish Traditional Music Ensemble, Early Music Ensemble and a variety of chamber music ensembles.  105

The DIT Harp Ensemble is one of the most active ensembles performing classical, Irish and contemporary repertoire under the direction of Denise Kelly McDonnell. They had an incredible year in 2016, travelling to Scotland to play a lunchtime concert at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, performing for HRH The Prince of Wales in Hillsborough Castle, and playing in the RDS Rising Stars Concert. They also took part in many events around Dublin, performing on Culture Night and in the RTÉ Reflecting the Rising events.

Fiddles, guitar, accordion, bagpipes and step dancing explode into life.

This international award winning band from Wales are back on the road with their infectious rhythms and high energy routines.  They come with accordion, harp, guitar, fiddles and Welsh bagpipes along with a virtuoso performance from a champion step dancer.

Calan have introduced a new generation of music fans to Welsh traditional music – in Wales and beyond including Borneo, Australia, USA and Europe.

‘…there’s nowt as dear as folk – especially when played with the grace, daring and sheer joy this multi- instrumental five-piece bring to a winning selection of reels, jigs and hornpipes’

THE MIRROR

Welsh tenor Rhys Meirion has enjoyed national and international success in opera, recording and broadcasting. Concert highlights include a gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall with Bryn Terfel, his BBC Prom debut at the opening night of the BBC Proms (televised on BBC 2), Desert Island Discs Anniversary Concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall, a live BBC recording of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony conducted by Richard Hickox, Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall and Karl Jenkins' 70 Birthday Concert at The Carnegie Hall New York. The second series of "Deuawdau Rhys Meirion" (Rhys Meirion's Duets) aired on S4C in 2017. He also presents “Dewch am Dro” on BBC Radio Cymru.

Dylan is a freelance harpist, performer and teacher who lives in North Wales. He has given virtuoso performances in Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Canada, Prague, China and Switzerland. Dylan has made guest appearances at the Thousand Voices Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, London and has performed with artists such as Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, John Owen Jones, Sioned Terry, Shân Cothi, Rhys Meirion, Rhydian Roberts and Rebecca Evans. Dylan has produced various albums, three are solo albums, four Piantel albums and three albums with Welsh harpist Gwenan Gibbard for Hong Kong based Sunrise Music. Apart from his own albums Dylan has appeared on a great number of other albums as an accompanist. Dylan is one half of “Piantel” who have been performing together for 13 years, and performs as a Cabaret Act “Two Blondes and a Harp”

Nick Capaldi has been Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales since September 2008. Prior to his appointment, he was Executive Director of Arts Council England South West, and Chief Executive of South West Arts.  As Chair of Arts 2000 he led a national organisation commissioning projects across England designed to celebrate the role of the artist. A graduate of Manchester’s Chetham’s Music School, the Royal College of Music and City University in London, Nick’s career in the arts started as a professional.  He holds diplomas in musical performance from the Royal College of Music (DipRCM, ARCM) and the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM). Nick was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by City University London in 2016.

Judith Utley began her harp study at age 12 in South Dakota, USA.  She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, under the tutelage of Suzann Davids, and her Master of Music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music with Alice Chalifoux.  She also pursued post-graduate study and master classes with Susann McDonald. While travelling with a touring ensemble, Judith met her husband, Paul, a career missionary, in Manila, Philippines. After marrying, they were assigned to Bangkok, Thailand in 1983.  Judith was principal harpist with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years, and she has been closely associated with Tamnak Prathom Harp Centre since its inception in 2002.  Currently living in Chiangmai, Judith teaches in the College of Music at Payap University.

Karen Vaughan studied with Maria Korchinska after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music.  She played for Scottish Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra before becoming Principal Harp of the Scottish National Orchestra.  On her return to London she was appointed Co-principal to Osian Ellis in the London Symphony Orchestra, retiring in 2015 after thirty years. Karen taught at The Purcell School and Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama before taking up her current position as Head of Harp at the RAM.  She has given masterclasses worldwide and coached youth orchestras in the UK, Spain and Japan.  Associate Artistic Director of the World Harp Congress she looks forward to the first congress in the UK, in Cardiff 2020.

Rhiannon Mathias studied music at Surrey University (B. Mus), St. John’s College, Cambridge (M. Phil) and Reading University (PhD), and has experience as a public speaker and broadcaster. She is the author of a book about the music of Elisabeth Lutyens, Elizabeth Maconchy and Grace Williams, lectures at Bangor University on twentieth-century women composers, and also directed the First International Conference on Women’s Work in Music last year at the University. Rhiannon performs in a flute and harp due with Elinor Bennett and is also the principal flute tutor at the Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias.

Denise Kelly is Lecturer in Harp at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin. A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and DIT Conservatory, her harp teachers include Maria Korchinska, Sidonie Goossens (Guildhall School of Music, London) and Francette Bartholomée (Conservatoire Royal, Brussels). Denise has taught in both the Belfast and Cork Schools of Music, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, and has coached the Irish Youth Orchestras. A composer and arranger, Denise has worked as a chamber musician and accompanist. Denise has performed and recorded with The Ulster Orchestra, RTÉ Concert and National Symphony Orchestras of Ireland, both as soloist and as Principal Harpist.

Rhian Samuel was educated in Britain and the United States. She completed a PhD at Washington University, St Louis, and thereafter taught Theory and Composition at the St Louis Conservatory of Music before returning to the UK in 1984, subsequently teaching at Reading University, City University, London, and Magdalen College Oxford. Her large-scale works include Elegy-Symphony (1981, St Louis SO); Tirluniau/Landscapes (2000, BBC Proms, BBCNOW), and Clytemnestra (BBC commission). She has written a number of works for solo harp, commissioned by Elinor Bennett and by the Royal Academy of Music, London. She co-edited the New Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. She received an Hon. Doctorate of Music from the University of Wales in 2016.