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HRH appoints a new official harpist from Wales

14th July 2004

The Prince of Wales met the young woman set to be his new Official Harpist, on the last day of his annual tour of Wales.

Jemima Phillips, 22, follows award-winning harpist Catrin Finch, 24, who took up the post four years ago when The Prince reinstated the ancient royal tradition of having an Official Harpist.

Jemima, whose family are from Ebbw Vale in South Wales, is currently living in London and studying at the Royal College of Music where she is completing a MMus course.

On the last day of his annual tour of Wales, The Prince met Jemima and Catrin at The Great House Hotel, Laleston, Bridgend, South Wales.

The Prince chatted with Jemima and Catrin and family over afternoon tea and presented Jemima with a special brooch to be worn when she plays for him.

The post of Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales was reinstated in 2000 to help celebrate and foster musical talent in Wales and the UK and to raise the profile of the harp as an instrument.

Jemima said she was “absolutely delighted” to be taking on the role.

She said: “It is a massive honour to be bestowed on me. I am really excited about it and over the moon.”

Jemima described the position as “very important” and said she could use it to “bring the harp to the public more”.

She started playing after her mother, Jenny, spotted an advert 15 years ago for a lever folk harp in the music section of Exchange & Mart.

It was during her childhood in Wales that Jemima discovered her musical talent.

She made her first public performance at the age of nine in the restaurant of St David's Hall, Cardiff, during the 1991 World Harp Festival.

Jemima later won the Under-19 Open concert and Lever Harp section at the Bristol Eisteddfod. In 1997 she won a music scholarship to Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls, and, aged 17, she won a four-year Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music.

Jemima has appeared around the world, but often returns to the family home, a small farm in the Wye Valley.

Catrin Finch, who was exiting the role, said she was sad to be leaving the post after four years which had been a “great honour” both on a personal and professional level.

She said that the role had raised the profile of the harp in Wales and around the world: “It has opened up so many doors that no other thing could have done for me.”