Lunchtime Concert: Harp Department

FRI 10 MAR, 13.05

Take time out this lunchtime for a performance by Trinity Laban harpists in the beautiful surroundings of the Old Royal Naval College Chapel.

CLARA GATTI COMINI, HARP

Simone Spagnolo
Silenzio

LUCIA FOTI, HARP
LILY SKINNER, ALTO SAXOPHONE
MAISIE WHITEMAN, FLUTE

Simone Spagnolo
Le Tavole de Peccato (The Tableaux of Sin):
Seven Musical Tableaux from the Original Sin according to Genesis

LAURA ARMSTRONG, CELLO
MARIA MCNAMEE, HARP

Louise Farrenc
Cello Sonata in B flat major, Op.46
II. Andante Sostenuto

CLARA GATTI COMINI, HARP
MARIA MCNAMEE, HARP
MARY BULL, FLUTE
FAITH WHITELEY, PICCOLO
CELIA MARGALEF BOQUERA, CELESTA
SERENA BRAIDA, SPOKEN VOICE

Simone Spagnolo
Gimnopedia Rapsodica


Clara Gatti Comini is an Italian harpist studying as a Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance scholar under the guidance of Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly for the triple harp. She completed her Bachelor’s degree with a First Class Honours. In 2016 she obtained a Harp Diploma at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional in Paris, studying with Elisabetta Giorgi. Prior to this, she studied at the Conservatori Municipal de Música de Barcelona with Maria Lluïsa Ibáñez and Maria Lluïsa Sánchez. She has attended masterclasses with internationally renowned harpists including Fabrice Pierre, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Catherine Michel, Isabelle Moretti, Sylvain Blassel, Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche, Heidi Krutzen, Isabelle Perrin and Park Stickney. Clara is a winner of the John Marson Harp Prize for Outstanding Musicianship 2020, the Cherubim Music Trust Harp Prize 2020, and holds third prize at the London Camac Harp Competition 2020. She has won various competitions from a young age, including Arpa Plus and L’Arjau in Barcelona. In 2020 she performed Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto at Wigmore Hall as part of Trinity Laban’s Strings’ program. She has given solo performances at St. James’s Church Piccadilly, the Lingotto in Turin, Nice Classic Live, Harps on Wight Festival, Agimus Grosseto, and Borough New Music where she performed the UK premiere of Ada Gentile’s piece Scaglie di Mare for solo harp. In London, she regularly performs at the Queen’s House, the Old Royal Naval College Chapel and St. Alfege Chapel. Clara is a member harpist at the European Union Youth Orchestra and since 2019, she is a member of Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, performing at St. John’s Smith Square and Cadogan Hall. As a harp teacher, Clara’s students have won multiple prizes at harp competitions, including first prize at the London Camac Harp Competition, London Young Musician, Glowing Harp Competition in Ukraine, International Fringe Association in Hong Kong, and have been accepted to the National Children’s Orchestra in the UK. Besides her harp studies, in 2017 she obtained a bachelor’s degree in International Development from King’s College London. Clara performs on a Lyon and Healy Style 100, generously donated by Lady Lucille Curzon to the Cherubim Music Trust.

Lucia Foti studied with Maria Ester Gattoni at Conservatorio di Como, Italy, where she graduated in harp performance with first class honours. Supported by a Trinity Laban Scholarship, she is currently attending a Master of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, under the tutelage of Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly. She won several competitions - notably, she was awarded a first prize scholarship at the 2015 Soroptimist Italia Competition for Young Talents. She has attended masterclasses with Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche, Anna Loro, Judith Liber, Luisa Prandina, Park Stickney, Heidi Krutzen, Gwyneth Wentink and Fabrice Pierre. She is a current reserve of the Young Musicians’ Symphony Orchestra, with whom she has performed at Cadogan Hall. As part of the Duo Images, Lucia regularly plays with flautist Anna Ratti. In 2018, they were both protagonists of Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto, which was performed with MaMu Ensemble and Orchestra Sinfonica del Lario. With guitarist Stefano Fiacco, she has formed Nazca Duo, who were selected as recipients of the 2022 Colin Blythe Fund. In 2021 and 2022, they performed at Wigmore Hall, as part of a Trinity Laban programme.

Lily Skinner is a multi-instrumentalist specialising in saxophone who is in her third year of undergraduate studies at Trinity Laban. She enjoys playing everything from classical to latin to contemporary, and is especially inspired by folk-influenced music.

Laura Armstrong is an aspiring cellist studying with Raphael Wallfisch for a Masters at the Royal College of Music. Previous to this she completed a BMus (Hons) degree at the Royal Academy of Music studying with Felix Schmidt and Benjamin Hughes, and jazz second study with Kit Downes. Laura has had the privilege of attending masterclasses with Ralph Kirshbaum, Mario Brunello, Hannah Roberts and Alexander Baillie, amongst others. She is grateful for additional input and lessons from Steven Isserlis, Steven Doane, Ludwig Quandt and Alban Gerhardt, and mentorship from Sophia Rahman. Her contemporary classical work includes projects under the direction of Oliver Knussen, with mentoring from Harrison Birtwistle. Highlights include a newly commissioned work for BBC Radio 3 at Marsden Jazz Festival and Brahms double concerto with Nimrod Orchestra. Laura was also very grateful to be awarded the RPS Isserlis Scholarship to study in Berlin with Ludwig Quandt, first principal of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Maria McNamee is an Irish harpist from Newry who began playing the harp at the age of 9, embracing both traditional Irish and classical music. She recently graduated with a first-class honour's degree and TCL silver medal from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where she continues to study for her master's degree with Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly. In 2011, Maria joined Chetham’s School of Music where she spent 6 years studying with Marie Leenhardt, Gabriella Dall’Olio and En Hudson. Winner of the John Marson prize 2020, Maria was awarded 2nd prize in the London Camac competition 2021. In 2017 Maria became a runner up Irish heritage award winner. Solo engagements have included performances at St James Piccadilly, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, playing for London’s Irish ambassador at the Irish Embassy, for the Duke of Wellington at Aspley house, as well as regular performances at the Queen’s house and the ORNC Chapel in London. Maria is also a very active chamber and orchestral musician, part of several chamber groups and co-principal harp of the Young Musician's Symphony Orchestra. Maria recently performed as a soloist at Blackheath halls for Sally Beamish’s Seavaigers, written for solo fiddle and lever harp with string ensemble. This concerto was part improvised and inspired by Scottish folk music which tied in well with Maria’s love and interest in folk music. Maria is delighted to be generously supported by the Ann Driver Scholarship and the Helen Roll Charity/The Joyce Tudge Bursary Scholarship, Help Musicians UK and the Boise Scholarship.

Mary Bull is a flautist from London. After studying Music and Maths at Royal Holloway, she is now in her first year of her MMus at Trinity Laban. Mary has a keen interest in contemporary music and enjoys exploring new works.

Faith Whiteley is a fourth year student at Trinity Laban studying flute and piccolo. She enjoys performing a wide range of musical styles. Recently she performed in the orchestra for Verdi’s opera Macbeth at Hoxton Hall. Faith has also played a variety of contemporary music and has worked with composers in both chamber and orchestral settings to perform and record their music. As well as orchestral playing with the Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra, Faith also enjoys performing solo repertoire on the flute and piccolo.

Celia Margalef Boquera is a Catalan pianist and musician. Margalef started playing the piano at the age of 6 with Professor Christiane Leruth. At 16, Margalef continued her studies at El Conservatori de Música de Vila-seca with Professor Jordi López. In 2016, Margalef finished the Intermediate Level with honours and succeeded on getting the second and third positions on the entrance exams at El Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu and L’Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, respectively. Margalef decided to study her Bachelor in Piano Interpretation at El Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu under the guidance of professor Tensy Krismant. Margalef got the Ferrer-Salat Scholarship for two years during her studies in the city of Barcelona. In September 2020, Margalef started the Masters of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with Professor Mikhail Kazakevich. Margalef was awarded with the Trinity College London Scholarship and the Trinity Laban Scholarship for the academic year 2020/21, and the Arthur Haynes Scholarship and the Trinity Laban Scholarship for the academic year 2021/22. In December 2021, Margalef was awarded the Cardnell Piano Prize.

Serena Braida is a poet, writer, performer and academic working in voice, text and performance. She has given solo and collaborative performances internationally, most notably at SLANT Voiceworks, the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room, Christie's Lates, Goldsmiths LitLive, LCMF, the Bucharest International Poetry Festival and European Camarade: Ireland. She is the author of a poetry pamphlet, Blue Sheila (Dancing Girl Press 2018) and has published poetry and prose in magazines, journals and anthologies. She is a lecturer in Voice at the University of West London.

Old Royal Naval College Chapel
Admission FREE, no booking required