Rachel Carver

Rachel began playing the harp aged nine and at eleven, gained a place in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, where she was awarded a Leverhulme Scholarship for the top four auditions of any instrument. Inter alia, the scholarship paid for her to have a master class from internationally renowned harpist Susan Drake, who is now her teacher. At fourteen, Rachel successfully auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and enjoyed two years playing with them under the baton of conductors like Vasily Petrenko and Kristjan Järvi. With these orchestras, Rachel performed at a range of concert venues from London’s famous Royal Albert Hall to the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, as well on Classic FM, Radio 3 and BBC TV for the Proms. At Oxford, Rachel enthusiastically participated in the musical life of the university. She was selected to be principal harpist in a range of ensembles including the Oxford University Orchestra, frequently accompanied college choirs and formed her own septet. Rachel has also had a varied solo career, playing at private events and public concerts in London and elsewhere. In 2014, she was the second highest placed harpist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. She has won many awards including two music scholarships and Masterclass Awards at Oxford. Having graduated from university, Rachel is now a full-time harpist based in Hampshire and undertakes professional assignments with orchestras, choirs, and as a soloist.