Anwen Mai Harpist

Anwen gained a Distinction for her Master of Arts in harp performance at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), London, where she studied under the tuition of Catrin Finch and Skaila Kanga. She was also awarded the DipRAM for her high final recital mark. As a RAM Scholar, Anwen participated regularly in masterclasses with world-renowned harpists, such as Isabelle Moretti, Isabelle Perrin and Anneleen Lenaerts, and continues to perform as a soloist and member of ensembles and orchestras. Anwen has worked with professional orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, including at their BBC Proms concert, and Sinfonia Smith Square. She was honoured to gain the harp position on the prestigious Foyle Future First programme with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for 2023-24, which is designed to nurture and develop talented orchestral players. As a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales on three concert tours under the batons of Carlo Rizzi and Andrew Litton, Anwen went on to work with renowned conductors Sir Mark Elder, Edward Gardner, Ryan Wigglesworth and John Wilson in the Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra, and Trevor Pinnock in the Royal Academy Chamber Orchestra. She performed with the Academy Soloists and Barbara Hannigan. Anwen performs at a range of events including a recital for the Elgar Society, and at the Mansion House (London), St David’s Hall, Millennium Centre and Norwegian Church (Cardiff). A further range of events with Eleanor Farncombe include a charity recital and children’s opera written and performed by children with learning disabilities, ‘The Ogre of Abergavenny’. She played harp on a film set for an upcoming movie ‘Up on the Roof’, starring Nathaniel Parker, and played live on ITV’s ‘This Morning’. Awarded the LRAM teaching diploma in 2021, Anwen undertakes teaching on harp and piano. She worked with the Open Academy department at RAM and took part in workshops and performances for a variety of audiences including school children. She also performed and collaborated with Wigmore Hall’s ‘Music for Life’ programme at workshops for people living with dementia and their carers. In 2023, Anwen became a Live Music Now musician, which allows her to take the harp to people who can’t easily access music. She enjoys connecting with people from all walks of life through music. Success as a soloist has seen Anwen winning the coveted ‘Rhuban Glas’ instrumental competition at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, with scholarship; 1st prize scholarship at the Wales International Harp Festival; winner of ‘Nansi Richards’ Prize for the best Welsh harpist, with scholarship; Very Highly Commended in the Guy Magrath Harp Prize. Anwen was awarded two prizes at RAM BMus (Hons) graduation: an Academy Regency Award for notable achievement and the ‘Gwynne Leyshon’ prize, while also being awarded the ‘Harp Prize for the highest recital mark’ at RAM MA graduation.