Gwenllian Llyr
Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr is quickly
gaining international recognition for her energetic and charismatic
performances. In July 2013, Gwenllian was a prize-winner at the
USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington where she was
highly praised for her musicianship and engaging performances.
She has also won many prizes more locally, including the Blue Ribbon
at the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol in Wales in 2012, and the First
Prize of the UK Camac Harp Competition in 2010. Gwenllian has recently
performed recitals at L’Espace Camac in Paris, the American-Irish
Historical Society in New York, the Dora Stoutzker Hall in Cardiff,
as well as a concerto performance with CCSO in Cardiff last June.
She also performed in a collaborative orchestra comprised of musicians
from the Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School, culminating
in a Proms performance with pianist Imogen Cooper under the baton
of John Adams. Gwenllian has also recently been involved in the
celebration of actor Richard Burton’s life, performing at the publication
of his diaries in New York and at the unveiling of his Star on
Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
A student of Nancy Allen, Gwenllian graduated with a Master of
Music degree from The Juilliard School last may where she was awarded
the William Schuman prize for outstanding achievement and leadership
in music. She previously graduated with First Class honors from
the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she spent four
years winning prizes and scholarships at both national and international
levels under the guidance of Caryl Thomas. As well as winning the
Nansi Richards scholarship in 2008, Gwenllian also reached the
final six at the 17th International Harp Contest in Israel in 2009,
and was a semi-finalist of the Dutch International Harp Competition
in 2010.
Gwenllian performs across the world in solo and chamber recitals, as well as a guest soloist with orchestras. She has been privileged to perform with renowned musicians such as Rebecca Evans, Al Jarreau and Bryn Terfel, and was recently invited to perform solo works for the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones both in Washington DC and in New York. Gwenllian performed Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and the Danses by Debussy with the RWCMD String ensemble in St. George’s Bristol. She was also named co-winner of the RWCMD Concerto Trials, and performed Ginastera’s Harp Concerto at both St. David’s Hall in Cardiff and at the RWCMD Royal Gala in Buckingham Palace.
During her studies at The Juilliard School, Gwenllian performed at many major venues in New York, including The Juilliard School, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Park Avenue Armory, the Plaza Hotel, the Yale Club, the United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She is also very interested in contemporary music and has worked with many composers on new works, both as a part of her studies and independently. As well as commissioning a solo harp piece for performance with dance from Sayo Kosugi, Gwenllian recently recorded a solo piece for Roderick Gorby and performed premiers of chamber works by Stefan Cwik and Jude Vaclavik last spring. She has performed extensively with Axiom and the New Juilliard Ensemble, and also worked with Juilliard’s Evening Division composers last semester to create new works for the harp. Her attendance at Juilliard would not have been possible without generous scholarships and grants from The Juilliard School, The James Pantyfedwen Trust, the Arts Council of Wales, the Elizabeth Evans Memorial Trust, INCO Foundation and select individuals.
