The East Sussex Harpist's playing has taken her across Europe and as far afield as Hong Kong and Chicago.
Closer to home she has performed in tiny houses, large houses, marquees, cafes, hotels, churches, castles, the Cafe Royal, London's Carlton Towers Hotel, Kensington Palace, Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, Wembley Arena and The Royal Albert Hall. The East Sussex Harpist loves to play the harp, and values sharing her passion for music wherever she goes.
*The East Sussex Harpist is currently based in Sussex and available for Weddings, Corporate Events, Functions and Special Occasions*
The East Sussex Harpist - harpist, composer, arranger.
The East Sussex Harpist graduated with a First in Performance from Keele University in 2003. She was taught by Robert Johnson from the Birmingham Conservatoire, and then Thelma Owen, from the Royal Academy of Music. The East Sussex Harpist made her debut playing the Debussy Danses which she performed with Keele Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris and across Brittany.
Since graduation, The East Sussex Harpist has been in demand for orchestral work, solo recitals, weddings, functions, Christenings and Naming Ceremonies. Her most recent orchestral engagement was with the Docklands Sinfonia at the Royal Albert Hall to perform music composed and conducted by the singer Imogen Heap for 'Love the Earth'.
As a composer, The East Sussex Harpist has collaborated with the Pericles Theatre Company since 2000, and written music for five major productions to date. The Children of Lir (2000), Bench (2005), Woman (2006), Pericles (2008), and The Nightingale (2009). The East Sussex Harpist performed her compositions at Wembley Arena in 2006 to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Other contributors at the event included Ruby Wax, Tania Bryer, Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) and Michael Timothy (Massive Attack).
The East Sussex Harpist has arranged a number of tunes composed by the seventeenth-century blind Irish harper, Turlough O'Carolan. Her interest in this extraordinary music led her to join the Cambridge Music of the Heart Conference in 2005, where she collaborated with Brian Keenan, author of Turlough. Brian shared his experiences as a hostage in Beirut, Lebanon, and his connection to the Irish harper O'Carolan. Fellow contributors were Sir John Tavener and Nigel Osborne. The inter-disciplinary nature of the conference brought heart surgeons, artists and musicians together to share their knowledge and promote a more holistic approach to understanding the organ of the heart.
The East Sussex Harpist has played in many bands over the years. Andrew Norman and the Blaxland Sisters headlined at the Chiddinglye Folk Festival in 2004, and the following year The East Sussex Harpist and Eoni supported the Irish singer Niamh Parsons at the White Hart. In 2006, Wasps in the Woodshed, a celtic band, supported Last Night's Fun at the Hailsham Pavilion in Sussex. Later the same year, The East Sussex Harpist formed a duo with French harper Francois Pernel and travelled the UK with their Contemporary Celtic Harp Tour. They performed a series of 21 concerts of O'Carolan arrangements and The East Sussex Harpist's compositions to a range of audiences, including children and adults with special needs.
The East Sussex Harpist's solo album Reflection (2006) is a collection of original compositions and O'Carolan arrangements. Wasps in the Woodshed released their album entitled Polly's Night Out in 2009. The line-up is fiddle, whistle, harp, uilleann pipes, mandolin, mandola, guitar, didgeridoo, vocals, bodhran and djembe.
The East Sussex Harpist has just completed a Masters Degree in English Literature at Sussex University. Her particular interest lies in the theme of the Imagination, with reference to the Romantic poet, philosopher, and lecturer Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the twentieth-century thinker Owen Barfield. The East Sussex Harpist draws on this knowledge in her composition work, and teaching practice.
The East Sussex Harpist's repertoire includes: Classical, Romantic, Popular, Jazz, Film, Musicals, Traditional, Celtic and her own compositions.
Let The East Sussex Harpist know which genres you like and she will play a selection of tunes.
If you have a special track in mind that she doesn't know yet, The East Sussex Harpist would be delighted to learn it for you, providing it is suitable for the harp.
Bonnie and Henry, Wedding
We wanted to write to say a BIG thank you for the beautiful music you played at our wedding ceremony. it was incredibly beautiful and you did so well to play in the rain. We really appreciate all your effors and for being being such a good sport. The rain didn't dampen our spirits at all and we had the most wonderful, fun and special day. Thank you for the part you played in that. I am so sorry I didn't get the chance to personally thank you on the day but I was so touched by your rendition of Lovely Joan and would like to offer you such thanks for playing that in memory of my nan. It meant an awful lot to all my family as well as myself. You played beautifully and brought such a special quality to our wedding day and we are so thankful to you. We hope you didn't get too wet and you enjoyed the day too. With kind wishes and sincere thanks, Bonnie and Henry x
Hilary and Steve, Wedding
We just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for playing the harp for our wedding. You play so beautifully and it was truly a fitting accompaniment to our day. So many of our guests have said how welcoming it was to hear you play as they arrived and how talented they thought you were. For us it was so special when we signed the register to hear the harp played in the background. Your playing during our drinks reception really helped set the mood for the rest of our day. Our wedding day will always remain one of the best days or our lives, and thank you so much for helping it be so special. All our love, Hilary and Steve xxx
A.R. Seales, 50th Wedding Anniversary
Thank you so much for playing your harp at our 50th Wedding Anniversary lunch on Saturday 23rd September at the Ramada Hotel, Pembury. We are very grateful to you. Yours Sincerely A.R. Seales
Anthony and Wendy, Music Festival
Thank you again for coming to play for us at Beaurepaire House, and for contributing so directly to the successful launch of the music festival. You charmed everyone with your music and your personality - and were from first to last wonderfully professional to do business with! With all good wishes, Anthony and Wendy Peacock
Jo Fowler, Wedding
Hi Matt, The East Sussex Harpist was absolutely fantastic she really added a touch of class to the proceedings. Thank you for helping make our day so special.
N Gaskell, Wedding
Thank you so much for making our wedding day one to remember! You were truly fantastic and I wish I'd had the time to come and watch you play more at a leisurely pace! The guests thought you were fantastic and have remarked on how great you were. Should you wish to use our letter as recommendation in the future please feel free to do so.
Clara and Tom, Wedding
Just a little note for a wall of fame! We want to say 'thank you' for helping to make our day so special. We had a wonderful day and hope you enjoyed yourself too. The signing of the register was particularly moving. So thank you, and I hope we can work with you again.
Marion Partridge, Civic Dinner
Thank you, most sincerely, for coming and playing for us at the Civic Dinner in Higham. To say that it was everything we had hoped is an understatement, you are truly talented and without your expertise the evening just would not have been the same. Thank you so much for making the evening so special and for coming all the way from Sussex to be with us.
- Royal Albert Hall
- Wembley Arena
- Kensington Palace
- Sandhurst Royal Military Academy
- The Cafe Royal
- London Carlton Towers Hotel
Weddings
- Ceremony - harp music as guests enter and take their seats, as the bride walks up the aisle, during the signing of the register, and finally as the bride and groom lead their guests out.
- Drinks Reception - background harp music while drinks are served and photos taken (1hour or up to 1.5 hours music).
- Wedding Breakfast - background harp music during the meal, until the start of the speeches (up to 2 hours music).
Combinations are available:
- Ceremony & Drinks Reception
- Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast
- Drinks Reception and Wedding Breakfast
Please Note: The fees indicated below are approximate and based on a central location for each county. They are intended to provide a rough guide only and exact quotes can only be given once the date and exact location of your event have been provided.
South East
- Bedfordshire - £276.00
- Berkshire - £253.00
- Buckinghamshire - £253.00
- East Sussex - £230.00
- Essex - £276.00
- Hampshire - £276.00
- Hertfordshire - £276.00
- Kent - £264.50
- London - £264.50
- Middlesex - £230.00
- Oxfordshire - £276.00
- Surrey - £230.00
- Sussex - £230.00
- West Sussex - £230.00
