As a daughter of professional harpist Sali Wyn Islwyn, music was a large part of Gwenllian’s life from an early age, marked by the start of Suzuki violin lessons at the age of three. Piano was the next challenge at the age of six, providing her with the ability to read music and qualifying for harp lessons with her mum a year later. By 10, her interests had also spread to the cello, and she later studied briefly with Keith Hewitt.
Gwenllian was a member of both the National Children's Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for many years. In addition to fantastic orchestral experiences, NYOGB also gave her the opportunity of receiving composition lessons with Paul Patterson, as well as private tuition and masterclasses with Sioned Williams, Susan Drake, Bryn Lewis, Imogen Barford and Charlotte Seale. After acheiving Distinction in her grade 8 ABRSM harp exam in 2002, Gwenllian began private tuition with Susan Drake with whom she studied with for two years with particular emphasis on technique.
At 16, Gwenllian began lessons with Caryl Thomas, and started competing regularly with great achievements. She has won numerous first prizes in both Eisteddfod yr Urdd and Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, with the most recent being her participation in the prestigious Blue Ribbon final over 19 years of age. Other recent successes include being runner up of The Texaco Young Musician of Wales 2007, a semi-finalist in both senior and professional categories of the Cardiff European Harp Competition 2007, semi-finalist in the Cite des Arts International Harp Competition 2008 and Winner of the Nansi Richards Scholarship 2008.
Gwenllian also enjoys performing in chamber and orchestral settings, and has recently performed both the Introduction and Allegro by Ravel, and Danses by Debussy with the RWCMD String Ensemble in St. Geroge’s, Bristol. She regularly performs as part of the RWCMD Harp Ensemble, and will collaborate more closely with flautist Luke Russell over the coming year. Though she has now left the NYO where she was co-principal harpist in her final year, Gwenllian continues her orchestral experiences with RWCMD Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Cymru, with whom she has also performed in chamber works. She also teaches in Cardiff, and performs in venues across South Wales in solo recitals and functions.
Gwenllian is currently a third year student on the BMus course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she was awarded the Salvi Scholarship of £3000 at her entrance in 2006, and again in 2008. She is continuing her principal studies with Caryl Thomas, and also receives tuition from Valerie Aldrich-Smith, Meinir Heulyn and Visiting Professor Catrin Finch. Over the past few years, Gwenllian has performed in master classes for internationally acclaimed harpists Isabelle Moretti, Marisa Robles, Park Stickney, David Watkins, Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche and Isabelle Perrin.
Biography