HARRIET ADIE - classical harp

A busy professional harpist for over 15 years, Harriet Adie is known for her intense musicality, creativity, and focus. Harriet is passionate about her instrument and enjoys the many opportunities her performing career has provided for sharing her love of the harp with other people.

Harriet’s introduction to the harp was far from conventional: she first began lessons in Oman in the Middle East, where fishing wire proved a suitable replacement for any broken harp strings! 3000 miles later, she was awarded a place at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of Daphne Boden. This was followed by reading Music at Balliol College, Oxford where she was an Instrumental Exhibitioner. Harriet then completed her studies with Imogen Barford at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, supported by awards from the Musician’s Benevolent Fund, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, and the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund.

An accomplished chamber musician, Harriet has performed with renowned ‘cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber, and was for many years, a member of the Swan Duo with ‘cellist Jessica Burroughs. Together they reached the String Finals of the Royal Over-Seas League competition, were Recommended Artists for Making Music, and performed many recitals under the auspices of the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme. Harriet is a founding member of the internationally recognized ensemble 4 Girls 4 Harps, whose music has been broadcast on Classic FM, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4, as well as across the world as far as Australia and the USA.

As a soloist she has given many recitals at major London venues including St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, and St James’s Palace. Her solo recording of music by Carey Blyton was described by MusicWeb International as ‘…could not be bettered. The young harpist Harriet Adie plays with character and total understanding.’ Harriet has also enjoyed working with many orchestras and ensembles including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan, London Festival Sinfonia, Covent Garden Sinfonia, Northern Sinfonia and London Oriana Choir.

Alongside her career as a professional harpist, Harriet is also a composer specializing in solo and chamber works for harp. Her critically acclaimed composition, Sun, Moon and Stars for harp quartet, was selected for performance at the 9th World Harp Congress, and her 2012 work, Elemental for harp quartet, was performed live on BBC Radio 3. In 2017, a video of Harriet’s harp quartet arrangement of Shostakovich’s famous Waltz no.2 went viral across the world, having receiving over 6 million views to date!

December 2022 saw the release of Harriet’s debut solo album, Christmastide, featuring her own arrangements of traditional Christmas carols for harp. The recording was well received by critics, with the British Music Society describing it as ‘arrangements to which it is well worth paying attention’ and by BBC Music Magazine as an ‘…intimate performance that is warm and colourful, creating a charming atmosphere of peace and joy.’. To celebrate the album’s release, Harriet also embarked on a 15 date concert tour of the UK and was delighted to see her carol arrangements published both in the UK and the US, to be enjoyed by harpists around the world.

Admission is £15 for adults, £7.50 for students and children admitted free of charge.