Anita Aslin

A native of Great Ayton, Anita began playing the Harp at the age of 9 with Dorothy Gilbertston, commuting to Harrogate for weekly lessons. She made her BBC (Radio) debut in 1982 at the age of 10! Invitations then followed to perform at the Gulbenkian Theatre (Newcastle), Winyard Hall, Bowes Museum and at various other venues in the North East. Winner of Young Musician of Teesside in 1986, she became a member of the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra. Subsequently she joined the Cleveland Youth Orchestra and has toured Europe with them. She graduated in July 1995 with a BMus (Hons) Degree after studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with teachers; Professor David Watkins, Charlotte Seale and Helen Tunstall. During her course she was also a member of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Some of the highlights whilst studying were; playing for BBC Television’s Christmas Presence (December 1993) starring Cliff Richard; and also performing in Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at St Paul’s Cathedral under the baton of Sir Richard Hickox. In May 1995 she was privileged to play at the VE Day Royal Banquet at the Guild Hall at which were present members of the Royal family and 50 Heads of State. In August 1996 Anita was Harp tutor for the National Children’s Orchestra (11yrs & under). In February 1997 she was part of the orchestral backing for Opera singer Lesley Garret. Later that year, in May, Anita released her first public recording called Harping On under the label of Huntcliffe Recording Services. Television credits include appearances in: Four Weddings (Living TV, April 2010), Mansfield Park (ITV, March 2007) Songs of Praise (Dec. 1993 and May 1999), Tonight (Tyne Tees Television, Feb. 1996) and Look North (BBC Newcastle, April 2000 and July 2001). In June 2000, Anita played for HRH the Prince of Wales during a visit to Sir William Turner’s Almshouses at Kirkleatham. In November 2002, Anita played for Brahms Requiem at Middlesbrough Town Hall which included the guest appearance of Sir Thomas Allen. In 2013 she played in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, as part of the Herriot Hospice Homecare 21st Anniversary Celebration. She has performed at the 'Festival Mundial del Arpa en el Paraguay' (World Harp Festival in Paraguay) in September, 2019. At present Anita is engaged in both free-lance work and teaching. She has achieved a great reputation as a harpist in the North East playing with; the Orchestra of Opera North, Carl Rosa Opera Orchestra (Britain’s oldest opera company), British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Scarborough Symphony Orchestra, Teesside Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber and Philharmonic Orchestras, Orchestra North East, City of Leeds Sinfonia, Leeds Youth Opera and Orchestra, Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of Square Chapel, Guildhall Barbican Orchestra of York and all the many local Choral Societies and Choirs. Anita owns and performs on a Lyon & Healy Concert Grand pedal harp, a Starfish lever-harp and a Camac DHC Electric lever-harp.