Anne Denholm
Opening Concert: The Many-Sided Harp
An evening exploring the diversity of the classical harp repertoire.
Friday October 20, All Saints’ Church, Ryde
Harp on Wight was delighted to welcome Patron Anne Denholm, on her first visit to the Isle of Wight, to open the fourth Harp Festival in Ryde. Anne was appointed Patron of Harp on Wight in April 2017, and her enthusiasm, and passion for all things relating to the harp, was a delight to witness.
Anne thrilled an audience of nearly 150 with a diverse repertoire showcasing her extraordinary talent, despite still being so young.
During her brief stay on the Island, Anne was particularly keen to visit Sylvestre Charbin's harp-making workshop at Quarr Abbey and was able to play on Sylvestre's completed harp for the students on the course. 
The playlist was:
Impromptu, Op.86 - Gabriel Fauré
David of the White Rock - Trad., arr. John Thomas 
Sonate für Harfe - Paul Hindemith
Erddigan - Gareth Glyn
Dance from Kafka's Chimp - John Metcalf
Suite No.1 for the Lute , BWV 996 - J.S. Bach, trans. M.-C. Jamet
Elegie pour la mort d'un berger - Bernard Andrès 
Beige Nocturne and Harpicide at Midnight - Pearl Chertok
Rhapsodie - Marcel Grandjan
Anne Denholm is one of Britain’s leading young harpists, and is Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales. She received her Master’s from the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London with distinction, graduating with the Renata Scheffel-Stein Harp Prize, the Sir Reginald Thatcher Prize, and a Regency Award for notable achievement. Whilst at the RAM, she was the first ever harpist to win the historic RAM Club Prize, and was twice winner of the Skaila Kanga Harp Prize.
She has won numerous prizes in local, national and international competitions, including second place in the Wales International Harp Festival 2014 and reaching the string category finals of the BBC Young Musician in 2010. Anne gives regular solo and chamber recitals across the U.K.
Anne is increasingly in demand as an interpreter and performer of new music; she has been recording and premiering new works for solo harp since 2006, and in 2013-14 worked with Sally Beamish on a video project of her work, ‘Awuya’. She is a founding member of contemporary experimental quartet, The Hermes Experiment (UK Young Artists 2014, Park Lane Group Artists 2015-16, Tunnell Trust Award Holders 2017-18), and also greatly enjoys working with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. 
Anne freelances with orchestras across England, most recently working with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. She is also Principal Harpist with Ensemble Cymru, a group championing chamber music throughout Wales. Anne enjoys working with choirs; collaborators have included Trinity Boys Choir, The Temple Church Choir, Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir and The Choir of St John’s College Cambridge. 
Twitter: @anne_denholm

Performance Platform

NOELIA COTUNA 
Winner of the 2017 North London Camac Harp Competition and 2017 Suoni d’Arpa International Harp Contest, 17-year-old Noelia Cotuna has been awarded more than 20 prizes at international competitions in Spain, Italy, Serbia and the UK.
Born in Spain, she started playing the harp at the age of six and two years later attended the Professional Conservatoire of Music of Valencia where she studied with Ana Martínez. She graduated in 2016 with the Professional Prize of Music in Harp and Chamber Music, and the Scholarship Prize of the RSEAPV. She was guest harpist of the Valencian Government’s Youth Orchestra in 2013 and was appointed principal harp at 14. Noelia has been involved in Madrid Symphony Orchestra’s Proyecto Talentos since being selected in 2015 and has recently won its 2017 Soloists’ Competition. She will perform Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp at the National Auditorium of Madrid in February 2018.
Noelia made her solo debut in July 2016 playing Dittersdorf’s Concerto for Harp alongside Valencia Orchestra and today performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra player in the most prestigious venues throughout Spain, in London and other European cities. She receives regular coaching in Early music with Frances Kelly, and has taken part in masterclasses with Fabrice Pierre, Marie Pierre Langlamet, Cristina Montes, Sylvain Blassel, Park Stickney, Maria Elena Bovio, Han-An Liu, Rachel Masters and Hugh Webb.
At 15, she was offered a place at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and is currently studying there with Gabriella Dall’Olio. She is also a reserve in Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester for the 2017 season. Noelia has been generously supported by the Gladys Bratton Scholarship Fund during the 2015/16 year, and is currently a Rosamund Mott Scholar and Trinity College London Scholar.

NICOLETTE CHIN
Nicolette is a prize-winning Singaporean harpist, having performed solo internationally in Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, France, Switzerland, Singapore and around the UK. 
Runner up of the 2017 Camac Harp Competition, recent achievements include reaching the final of the Felix Godefroid competition (2017), the Frank Britton Award (2016), a commendation for the Guy McGrath harp prize (2015) and a high commendation for the Skaila Kanga harp prize (2016). As an orchestral harpist, Nicolette has worked under renowned conductors such as Oliver Knussen, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Christopher Warren-Green.
In Singapore, Nicolette has performed at the Esplanade's Concert Hall, Recital Studio and Concourse, the Victoria Concert Hall, Botanical Gardens, Arts House and the SOTA Concert Hall, where she performed the Debussy Danses and Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto as twice-winner of SOTA’s concerto soloist competition.  Recent performance venues within the UK include the Regent Hall, Duke’s Hall, King's College Chapel (Cambridge), Charlton House and St James Piccadilly. 
As of now Nicolette is currently in her 3rd year as the first Singaporean harp performance major at the Royal Academy of Music, London, studying with Catherine White. She also studies second study composition under Dr Patrick Nunn. Upcoming engagements include a recital at the upcoming World Harp Congress 2017 in Hong Kong as part of the Focus on Youth series, and a recital at St Mary Magdalene (Newark) as part of the Ulysses duo.
Nicolette is very grateful for the support she receives as a full scholar of the Loke-Cheng Kim Foundation and as an entrance scholarship recipient of the Royal Academy.

Fran Barsby
Fran Barsby is a British harpist known for her passion and innovation. Fran made her professional debut in 2008 at St John’s Smith Square, London. Since then she has enjoyed performing in venues such as Royal Albert Hall, 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.  
In 2015 Fran graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire of Music. During this time Fran enjoyed studying with teachers including Catherine White, Gabriella Dall'Olio, David Watkins, Skaila Kanga, Louisa Maria Cordell, Charlotte Seale, and Anne Hughes Chamberlain. 
Since 2015, Fran has enjoyed a flourishing career as a harpist. As Pilgrim Harps Online Marketing Coordinator and Resident Harpist, Fran enjoys performing and conducting masterclasses on behalf of the company. Fran particularly enjoys organising "Come and Try the Harp" events which offer the opportunity for anyone of any age and ability can try a harp and learn more about the instrument. 
Fran has been teaching the harp for 7 years. She currently teaches privately and in three schools in the Midlands; Kings High School for Girls, Warwick Preparatory School and The Blue Coat School Birmingham.  Fran ensures all her students have regular opportunities to perform and runs termly student concerts. Fran teaches privately from her harp studio in Warwick. The Harp Studio is the home of PoppyHarp. PoppyHarp is a lever harp showroom for Pilgrim Harps and a publishing company for young professional composers. Fran is Company Director of PoppyHarp Publishing. April 2015 brought the release of a new set of Harp tuition books for students of all ages, parental help guides and advice for teachers. As Company Director of PoppyHarp Publishing, Fran helps young professional musicians and composers publish their first compositions. From PoppyHarp Fran has launched the Future Blend Project. The project is now internationally renowned; it is a year long composition competition that pairs harpists and composers together in order to create some incredible new music. The project is now in its third year and has had two sell out concerts, published 18 new works and recorded 2 CD’s of brand new harp music. As Founder and Director of the Future Blend Project, Fran has enjoyed working with a wide variety of musicians such as Eleanor Turner, Kirsty Devaney, Dominic Sewell, Paul Lewis, Edmund Joillfe, Shelley FairPlay, Amy Turk and more. 
Fran also enjoys working with various charities and projects such as the Harp On Wight Festival as a web-designer. PoppyHarp specialises in creating easy to use websites for young professional musicians. Fran enjoys her diverse career, performing in concerts, at weddings and events, as a music and health musicians at hospitals and hospices, teaching and running her companies. For a full list of events and more information please visit: www.franbarsbyharpist.co.uk

Adriano Sangineto
Arpa Creativa

Saturday 21st October 2017
​Original compositions by Italian harpist Adriano Sangineto, with Celtic flavour combined with a Mediterranean soul and rhythm along with European traditional tunes.
Venue:
Ryde Methodist Church, Garfield Road, Ryde PO33 2PT
Tickets: £12
​​Children under 16: £6
Born and raised in a musical family – Adriano’s father was an instrument maker – Adriano’s own musical development was influenced by contact with artists at the peak of the international folk scene, such as Alan Stivell, Carlos Nunez, and The Chieftains. Passionate about music in general, Adriano expresses himself through a wide range of musical genres from ancient to modern. He has also revisited popular European and Italian folk tunes, creating new arrangements of his own.  Adriano plays several string and woodwind instruments. He specialised in clarinet at the Milan Conservatory and taught himself to play the Celtic harp.  Through his constant search for new sounds Adriano has developed a personal technique which proves that the harp is an instrument capable of great individuality and variety. Adriano’s first solo album, Arpa Creativa (2012), is full of spectacular harmonies which demonstrate its versatility. On his second solo album (2014), Abracadabra, the harp expresses the insistent rhythms of different types of European folk music, urging the listener to dance. Adriano has also had great success as a composer - his pieces are played in music schools in Russia, Wales and France. In 2012 Adriano was awarded the prize for the best short film sound track at the Golfo dei Poeti Film Festival in Lerici, Italy.

With his twin sister, Caterina, Adriano formed the Ensemble Sangineto. Together they play Irish and Italian folk music on Celtic harp and psaltery. They toured Europe in 2014 to popular acclaim, and have produced a number of CDs. In 2013 Adriano formed Antica Liuteria Sangineto. The group performs ancient music, from Medieval to Baroque, playing instruments built by Adriano’s father after studying paintings by Renaissance Old Masters. They have toured Italy and France.
Adriano holds masterclasses all over Europe, and is currently one of the tutors of the online project International Harp School. He has performed in harp festivals all over Europe. Now he will add Harp on Wight to his list. ​

Savourna Stevenson
and Steve Kettley 
Celtic

An evening which promises to be a highly exciting and creative combination as harp virtuoso Savourna Stevenson joins forces with woodwind player Steve Kettley.​

Venue: RYDE METHODIST CHURCH, Garfield Road, Ryde PO33 2PT
Savourna Stevenson began playing the piano and composing from the age of five with her father, composer Ronald Stevenson, and made her concert debut with the harp at 15 years old in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. She has written prolifically for the clarsach, collaborating with traditional artists including Aly Bain, Danny Thompson, Davy Spillane, June Tabor and Eddi Reader. Although her music strongly reflects her Scottish roots, she also crosses stylistic barriers between classical, folk, world music and jazz. 
Alongside international touring commitments as both harp and clarsach virtuoso, Savourna has been commissioned to write for dance, theatre, TV/film and orchestra. Her ‘Harp Quintet’ was premiered at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in 2000 before finding new audiences via the American TV series ‘Sex and the City‘ and ‘Ugly Betty’. In 2001 Savourna received a ‘Creative Scotland’ Award for her contribution to Scottish music. This allowed her to fulfil her ambition of writing for symphony orchestra. Her resulting piece for children, ‘Misterstourworm and the Kelpie’s Gift’, was premiered by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2003. More commissions followed, to be performed by the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, and the National Youth Choirs of Scotland, demonstrating her sensitive understanding of music for children. Her 2012 ‘Concerto for Pedal Harp’ was toured by international harp soloist Catrin Finch and the Scottish Ensemble. In 2015, Savourna composed one of four movements of a new commission to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the quartet ‘4 Girls 4 Harps’. The list of her achievements is long. For more details see www.savournastevenson.uk
Steve Kettley, musician, composer and occasional actor, plays tenor and soprano saxophone, flute, jaw harp and percussion. He leads several bands playing his own music, and is well known as a founder member of the international touring and recording group ‘Salsa Celtica’. Recently, ‘Orange Claw Hammer’, a quartet dedicated to interpreting the music of rock legend Captain Beefheart, has been a major interest. For the past few years Steve has been enjoying a productive collaboration with former national poet (Makar) of Scotland, Liz Lochhead.

Monday 23rd October 2017
​7:30pm

Robin Huw Bowen
‘Iaith Enaid’ – The Language of the Soul
From grand, regal airs with their glittering variations, from heart-rending laments and songs of unrequitted love, to lively folk-airs and the musical fireworks of the Welsh Gypsies, Robin Huw Bowen brings us the very soul of Welsh tradition on its true medium, the Triple Harp, with its enchanting, shimmering voice, as unique as the Welsh language itself. As the poet once said: ‘...Anian i gyd yno’n gwau, Iaith enaid ar ei thannau.’ (‘... All passion there weaving, The language of the soul on her strings.’)

Venue: RYDE METHODIST CHURCH, Garfield Road, Ryde PO33 2PT

Tickets: £ 12 - Children under 16: £6
Robin was 16 when he first heard Alan Stivell, and decided to play the Celtic Harp. He began to study with Margaret Anwyl of Tywyn. In 1977, during his time at Aberystwyth University reading Celtic Studies, Robin heard Dafydd and Gwyndaf Roberts of the Welsh folk group Ar Lôg. He was hooked. The Triple Harp was for him. He bought his first instrument in 1979.  

Working in the Manuscripts Department of the National Library of Wales from 1980 to 1986 gave Robin the opportunity to research Welsh Folk Music. He continued to play the harp, and during this time he visited Holland and the United States representing the Welsh Folk Museum and the Welsh Tourist Board. Robin’s 1986 farewell to the Library for a life on the road brought him happiness and brought the Welsh Triple Harp to music lovers all over the world. 

A long list of accomplishments includes founding The Society for the Traditional Instruments of Wales in 1996 with other traditional musicians; in 2000 Robin formed Rhes Ganol (Triple Harp Choir); in 2006 he was appointed Joint Music Director of The Clerorfa (The Welsh Folk Orchestra); and in 2008 he shared the stage at the Palais d'Omnisports de Bercy, Paris with his 1973 hero, Alan Stivell. Earlier this year he accompanied ‘Demelza’ (Eleanor Thompson) in a scene in Poldark for the BBC. Robin’s numerous awards include the Glyndŵr Medal at the Machynlleth Festival for ‘an outstanding contribution to the arts in Wales’ (2000), in 2002 a BAFTA (Cymru) for his original music for the S4C TV-film Eldra, and in 2004 the order of Druid (the Gorsedd White Robes) at the National Eisteddfod at Newport (Gwent). 
 Robin represents the very soul of the Welsh musical tradition. He has researched, recorded, and published many old ‘lost’ Welsh airs. Drawing on his own studies, and using authentic techniques learned from other artists, he brings together the different strands of tradition, to give new vital expression to the music of Wales. For more information see www.teires.tth7.co.uk

Tuesday 24th October 2017
​3pm

Yolanthe Cornelisse
Images of Wight: Music tales for harp inspired by the Isle of Wight.

Venue: RYDE METHODIST CHURCH HALL, Garfield Road, Ryde PO33 2PT

Tickets: £5 
Yolanthe, who is from the Netherlands, fell in love with the sound of the harp at the age of eight. Later in life she graduated as Bachelor of Arts Therapies and started to work as a music therapist in a hospice and in a residential care hope for people with dementia.
​
Yolanthe has a real affinity for the Isle of Wight. During her visits in 2008, 2009 and 2015 she was inspired to write short pieces of harp music about the lovely scenery. This resulted in two limited edition albums: “Images of Wight” and “Wight Revisited”

Tuesday 24th October 2017
​7:30pm

Chube Trio
Ben Creighton Griffiths: Harp
​ Matthew Williams: Percussion
Aeddan Williams: Bass
Jazz Fusion

Chube’s performance will feature a variety of original compositions and well known pieces, and will contain a wide mixture of genres, drawing inspiration from traditional jazz, electronic music and world music. The harp will feature prominently, as well as a wide variety of percussion.

Venue: RYDE METHODIST CHURCH, Garfield Road, Ryde PO33 2PT

Tickets: £ 10 Children under 16: £5
CHUBE is a project that was first set up by Ben Creighton Griffiths (harp, keys) and Matthew Williams (percussion, drums, recording engineer) in 2016. After several years of working together as performers and recording artists they made the choice to start an official venture. They began to write original material, and arrange existing compositions, specifically for CHUBE at the beginning of 2016 and then recorded their first demos in the following summer. This was followed with further recordings in 2017. The music of CHUBE is rather varied – ranging from traditional jazz to very modern electronic music with almost everything in between. Matthew and Ben have combined their interests in the fields of rock and latin music to create a unique sound. In addition to this they use the distinctive timbre of the harp to add another completely unique element to their sound. Whilst they are looking to have completely their own sound they draw lots of inspiration from artists such as Neil Cowley, Herbie Hancock, Vulfpeck, and Chick Corea.  CHUBE have their first performances scheduled in the autumn of 2017. They are going to be appearing at the Harp on White Festival as well as potential performances in London and Cardiff. They hope to tour in 2018.  CHUBE are delighted to welcome Aeddan Williams as their bass player in 2017. 
Matt Williams is a drummer, percussionist, and recording engineer from Cardiff. He started playing drum kit at the age of five, progressing through his grades under the tuition of David Payne and later Derek Bisset. He learnt material from many genres including jazz, latin, and rock, and developed a keen interest in pop. 
Later, his playing moved more into the field of jazz – in particular looking at the fusion of jazz, latin, and rock as well as experimentation with the addition of other percussion into the standard drum kit. He is currently studying under Darby Todd and draws inspiration from players such as Eric Moore, Anika Nilles and Benny Grebb. 
At the age of fifteen Matt developed an interest in the recording side of the music industry and is currently studying on the prestigious Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey. Since then he has had the opportunity to work in many of the UKs biggest recording studios – including Real World, Rock Field, and Fieldgate Studios. He is currently mentored by engineer Alex Killpartrick and draws inspiration from the work of engineer Tchad Blake and producer Greg Kursten. 
Matt first met Ben at a local games club when they were 13. Later they started playing music together, playing traditional jazz for several years as well as looking at more experimental fusion work. He has featured as a guest artist on two of Ben’s albums – Pedals & Paws (2015) and 1 Man Band (2017). On Pedals & Paws he recorded and mixed three of the tracks whilst he also edited ‘The Station’ from 1 Man Band. He is also due to record a new gypsy jazz quartet album for Ben alongside Adrien Chevalier (Violin, New York), Tatiana Eva-Marie (Vocals, New York), and Ashley John Long (Bass, Cardiff) in Fieldgate Studios in May. 
Matt is now focusing on his work with CHUBE and is looking forward to writing, recording, and performing extensively throughout 2017 and 2018.
BENJAMIN CREIGHTON GRIFFITHS
Benjamin made his international debut in 2004 when as a 7 year old he came second in the Under 18 class of the 1er Concours International de Harpe in Nantes, France. In 2006 he won the Under 13 solo harp at the Wales International Harp Festival and in 2008 (11 years old) won the Under 16 class at Concours de harpe Lily Laskine, in Paris. His prize was a Salvi Concert Harp. Since then he has developed an enviable reputation as a concert soloist and orchestral musician. 
Currently Benjamin is the Principal Harp of Concert Orchestra de Cymru and Orchestra West and he has performed as a concerto soloist with The Welsh Sinfonia, Welsh Concert Orchestra, Orchestra West, Llandenny Strings, Cardiff Philharmonic, Chandos Symphony Orchestra, Les Alizés and the orchestra of Le Garde Républicaine. He has also performed with numerous choirs as both a soloist and accompanist.
Benjamin has worked with many of charities over his career. In Particular he is an Official Ambassador for George Thomas Hospice Care, The British Heart Foundation Cymru and St. John Cymru Wales. On 1st March 2010 he performed at Clarence House for HRH the Prince of Wales at a reception for George Thomas.

Benjamin has made a number of TV programs with the BBC including Take a Bow (2007), Bobinogs (2008), Show me, Show me (2015) and a short film for CBBC about Lady Llanover in which he plays a Triple Harp (2014). Other TV appearances include the Urdd Eisteddfod, Carolau Llangollen, Noson Lawen, BBC Children in Need and Acapela (Made in Cardiff 2015). Radio broadcasts include The National Holocaust Memorial Event, Wales International Harp Festival & an interview for the BBC R4 documentary - Master Harper. During the summer of 2011 he featured on ITV1's 'Born to Shine' where over course of several months he mentored Welsh Rugby star Gareth Thomas to learn the harp and perform live on TV – narrowly coming second to an Opera Singing Jason Manford.
Whilst continuing his classical work, Ben is now in increasing demand for his jazz performances, working as both a soloist and with bands, singers, and other artists. His jazz repertoire covers all genres, including Swing, Latin, Funk, Electronic and Fusion, Gypsy, and more. For the last three years he has been teaching a series of very successful 'Introduction to Improvisation' workshops as both one off events and at Harp Festivals worldwide, aiming to encourage harpists of all ages and abilities into the world of jazz.

As both a classical and jazz artist Ben has toured extensively around the world, performing in Brazil (2010, 2011, 2012), Canada (2011), The Caribbean (2013, 2016), Croatia (2013), The Czech Republic (2014), France (2008, 2010), Hungary (2010), Italy (2009), Netherlands (2008, 2011, 2013, 2016) & Spain (2010, 2013, 2016).

Closer to home Ben has performed as a soloist in both genres at The Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Wales International Harp Festival, The Summer Harp Festival, Monmouth Festival, Ludlow Festival, Trinity Harp Festival, The Derbyshire Harp Festival, The Cardiff Camac Harp Weekend, The East Anglia Harp Festival, Harp on Wight, Glasbury Arts Harp Summer School, Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Black Mountain Jazz Club, Cambridge Jazz Festival and The Vale Jazz Festival.

Benjamin has released several jazz CD's including his 'Incomplete A-Z of Jazz Harp' and 'Pedals & Paws'. His newest album '1 Man Band' was released in February 2017 at a special release concert in Acapela Studios. '1 Man Band' is his most diverse and exploratory album yet featuring a range of styles and sounds. Ben has also published numerous arrangements, both classical and jazz, including his popular 'Jazz Harp Series'. 
Upcoming performances for 2017 include the release of his new album (1 Man Band), Gypsy Jazz concerts with Adrien Chevalier (Violin) and Tatiana Eva-Marie (Vocals) from New York, tuition in New Orleans, Louisville, and Nashville, and the Word Harp Congress in Hong Kong. He is also working extensively with percussionist and drummer Matthew Williams in their collaborative project CHUBE. They are currently recording original compositions and are scheduling performances in the second half of 2017 – including an appearance at Harp on Wight Festival. ​

Saturday 18th November 2017
7:​30pm

IOW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
​Oliver Wass: Harp soloist
From Russia with Love 

Featuring Khachaturian, Gliere and Tchaikovsky. A collaboration between the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra and Harp on Wight.

Venue: MEDINA THEATRE, 159, Fairlee Rd,  Newport PO30 2EW

OLIVER WASS
In May 2016 Oliver Wass became the first harpist to win the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s most prestigious prize, the Gold Medal, in the Medal’s one hundred-year history. Previous winners include Jacqueline du Pre, Bryn Terfel and Tasmin Little. Oliver is currently studying for a Master’s Degree with Imogen Barford at the Guildhall School, for which he was awarded a full scholarship.  
Despite being very keen on chemistry, spending much of his childhood time making fireworks in his garden-shed laboratory for presentation in his own show on 5th November, around the age of nine Oliver decided to follow his mother into the world of the professional harpist. This became his passion (nevertheless he graduated from York University with a First Class Honours Degree in Chemistry). Oliver competed in and won music festivals throughout his early years. He studied with Charlotte Seal in the Junior Department of the Guildhall School, where he became the only harpist to have been a prize winner in the Lutine Competition, and he was Principal Harp in the National Youth Orchestra. 
An experienced soloist, Oliver has performed all the major harp concertos, including directing the Handel Harp Concerto in the Barbican Hall. He has performed concertos at the London Handel Festival, the City of London Festival, with the Oxford Sinfonia, and with the World Chamber Orchestra. In December 2016 Oliver was awarded the Andrea Vigh Special Prize at the 4th International Harp Competition in Szeged, Hungary, together with third prize in the under 25 section. 
Oliver is a St. John’s Smith Square Young Artist, and presented recitals throughout the 2016/17 season. He also commissioned new works for the solo harp. The piano plays a large part in Oliver’s life, and another of his interests is transcribing piano music for the harp.
Oliver made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2016 with his flute-viola-harp trio, The Pelléas Ensemble.  The Ensemble has won many prizes, including the Grand Prize and the Audience Prize at the St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Music Competition and 1st Prize in the British Harp Chamber Music Competition. They have a busy recital schedule, performing round the country, and are active in commissioning new works for the trio which have been performed at St John’s Smith Square, the Two Moors Festival, and the UK Harp Association. The Pelléas Ensemble has appeared live on Radio 3.
Oliver is very grateful for support from the Norman Gee Foundation, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, and Help Musicians UK. For more information see www.oliverwass.co.uk