Nia Evans

Nia is an award winning harpist based in Wales, recently gaining her MMus with distinction at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Prior to her studies in Cardiff, she gained her BMus at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Despite her classical training, Nia has a rich and varied repertoire ranging from pop to jazz to Disney to Bollywood to of course classical! She is available for weddings, events, functions, concerts and tuition, and is in high demand as both soloist and ensemble player. Highlights as a soloist include winning the bronze medal at the 5th Hong Kong International Harp Competition (2020), performing at the Official Opening of the Sixth Senedd (2021) for the late Queen Elizabeth II, and most recently performing for His Majesty King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort on their first official visit to Wales (September 2022). Nia also recently enjoyed making her professional orchestral debut with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, performing concerts at The Lighthouse, Poole, and the Guildhall, Portsmouth. During Nia's time at the RWCMD and the RAM, her success was reflected in her winning numerous awards and prizes, including the Frank Britton award, the Olive Jenkins Memorial Bursary, the Royal Welch Fusilliers Harp Prize and the Daniel Emlyn Davies Award. Nia is passionate about the vital role of the harp in Welsh culture and has a keen interest in exploring the capabilities of the national instrument. Her national achievements include winning both the under 25 and under 16 harp solo competitions at the Gwyl Cerdd Dant, as well as winning the open duet competition at the National Eisteddfod in 2018 with harpist Anwen Thomas. She has performed with world-renowned conductors such as Ed Gardner, Sir Mark Elder, Carlo Rizzi, Andrew Litton, Paul Daniel, Robert Trevino and Marin Alsop. Nia has performed at major concert venues throughout the UK including London’s Southbank Centre and St John’s Smith Square, and numerous times at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales of which she was co-principal harpist from 2017-19. Nia would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Olive Jenkins Memorial Bursary, the Ryan Davies Memorial Fund, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, and the Thomas and Elizabeth Williams Scholarship.