Catrin Finch

One of the world's leading young harpists and former Royal Harpist to HRH Prince of Wales

Born:

1980

Place of Birth:

Llanon

School:

Aberaeron Comprehensive School

"My aim is to popularise the harp as an instrument. It is quite unknown really." Catrin Finch

Trivia:

On 6 September 2003, Catrin married Hywel Wigley - the son of her former harp teacher.

Biography:

Born in Ceredigion, Catrin Finch is regarded as one of the world's leading players of this most Welsh of instruments and was the Prince of Wales' Royal Harpist from 2000 - 2004.

Catrin was born in Llanon, Ceredigion, in 1980 and was brought up in this small village on the edge of Cardigan Bay where she attended the local primary school.

When she was five years old, her parents took her to the Lampeter Music Club to watch a recital by harpist Marisa Robles. It was to prove a turning point. After the concert, Catrin declared that she too wanted to be a harpist. She didn't have to wait long.

On her sixth birthday, she was given a Celtic Harp as a present and started taking lessons with Delyth Evans in Aberystwyth. But her teacher soon realised that here was no ordinary talent. When she was eight years old, Catrin was introduced to leading Welsh harpist Elinor Bennett who became her teacher for the next eight years.

Elinor Bennett lived in Bontnewydd in Gwynedd - almost a hundred miles from Llanon. Every fortnight, Catrin would be driven the four-hour round trip for a two-hour lesson. By the time she was 9, she had passed Grade 8 with distinction.

Catrin was 10 years old when she joined the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and later that year became the youngest member of that orchestra to play at a BBC Promenade Concert in London's Albert Hall.

During this time, she continued to attend her local school, moving up from Llanon Primary School to Aberaeron Secondary School. She would often get up at 6 o'clock in the morning and practise for two hours before leaving for lessons. At weekends, she would sometimes practise for up to seven hours.

She won first prize in the junior section of the World Harp Festival in 1991 and three years later, still only 14, she came second in the festival's adult section.

When she was 16, Catrin left Ceredigion to attend the Purcell School in London where she studied with Skaila Kanga who continued as her tutor when she moved to the London Academy two years later.

In her third year at the Academy, Catrin was awoken by her flatmate one morning to be told there was a telephone call for her. It was Buckingham Palace, inviting her to become Royal Harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales. It was a post which had not been filled since 1871 when Welshman John Thomas was appointed Royal Harpist to Queen Victoria.

Prince Charles had heard Catrin play at his 50th birthday celebrations and has described her as "a credit to Wales". Catrin accepted the invitation which involved performing at both public and private events in Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Highgrove House and St James Palace.

At the official opening of the second term of the National Assembly of Wales in May 2003, Catrin played the harp as the Royal family arrived at the Cardiff Bay building. She had to relinquish her role as Royal Harpist in August 2004 after passing the job's upper age limit of 25.

At the turn of the millennium, Catrin won the Young Concert Artists prize which brought with it three years of support and representation in the United States and further afield. Soon after, in March 2000, she made her debut at London's Wigmore Hall.

Catrin has performed across America and much of Europe as well as Thailand and the Far East and she has also won first prize in one of the most prestigious harp competitions in the world, the Lily Laskine International Harp Competition.

Catrin has worked closely with distinguished Welsh composer Karl Jenkins who arranged and composed a range of works for her for release on the Sony Classical label in 2003.

A fluent Welsh-speaker, Catrin is married to Hywel Wigley the son of her former harp teacher Elinor Bennett and former Plaid Cymru President Dafydd Wigley.

your comments

Gail Davies from Tredegar
Would love to see Catrin play live! Does someone have any concert dates for South Wales please?
Mon Sep 22 07:32:42 2008

Owain, Aberystwyth
Catrin Finch will be performing in the new multi-purpose venue, Pafiliwn Bont in Pontrhyfendigaid on Sunday 22nd June 2008.
Tue Apr 1 05:24:31 2008

Samantha Radford, Beulah, Wales
I would like to know how to email/ask Catrin for advice on Harp lessons - I am near the same area as where she was born and both me and my daughter wish to learn the harp!!Many thanks.
Mon Oct 22 14:53:43 2007

Margaretta Jones from Maidstone.
I heard Catrin at Aberaeron Bicentenary Celebrations-2007. She was brilliant, a credit to Aberaeron Secondary School, my former school and to her Welsh heritage. I could have listened to her the whole evening, although there were other talented performers. I hope very much to hear her play again, very soon. It was an evening to remember.
Mon Aug 6 09:15:02 2007

Richard Maunder from Australia (Melbourne)
I saw a short TV show about 6 months ago about Catrin and have never forgotten it. I was totally entranced by how well and how beautifully Catrin played. It is one of my dreams to see her play live, and I very much hope she will tour Australia.
Fri Feb 9 10:31:30 2007

Simon Roberts
I would be grateful to be informed of events where Welsh harpists can be seen particularly in Mid or West Wales.
Mon Jan 1 12:24:07 2007

Kathy Whyman, Hinckley
Catrin is one of the very best harpists I've ever heard. She is stunning! (I used to play the harp,and have some idea of the difficulties - which Catrin just sails through!)
Mon Nov 13 09:58:51 2006

Graham Larsen (South Island, NZ)
I am previously a resident of Cribyn, Lampeter. Really pleased to see a young and dynamic Welsh talent doing so well. She's right with her determination to popularise the harp. She could do to harp music what River Dance did to Irish dance/folk music. I very much hope that she'll tour New Zealand sometime and bring a tear to this expat Welshman's eyes. Does Catrin have a website?
Wed Nov 8 09:14:15 2006

Maggie , Cardiff.
Lucky to be at a concert at Sheffield Town Hall September 29.09.06 where Catrin was appearing in a concert with Bryn Terfel .It was mesmerising and you could have heard a pin drop when Catrin played a beautiful piece by Felix Godefroid called Carnaval de Venise. I could listen to her interpretation of compositions daily.
Thu Oct 5 08:50:24 2006

Reggie Jones Sunnyvale CA USA
Is there a website to buy Catrin's CDs? My grandparents were from Wales, migrated here in early 1900's. They both loved music, played and sang. What a wonderful tradition!
Sat Sep 23 08:41:42 2006

Ffion Huw, Ruthin
Silver,don't comment on things you don't know about. I've heard Catrin Finch play and she is amazing. Do you know how extrodinary it is to pass your grade 8 before you're ten? The fact that you come from Wales and haven't heard of her is disgraceful.
Wed Sep 20 09:28:54 2006

R Cox Maidstone
I think that she is a brilliant ambassador for Wales and deserves her place as one of our Welsh heroines.
Wed Sep 20 09:09:24 2006

silver, cardiff
Never heard of her. Why not put some real heroes up. Maybe some sports heroes of Wales that are winning world comps. instead of some random harp player.
Fri Sep 15 09:42:33 2006

Glen Peters, Rhosygilwen, North Pembs
Catrin came to play for us at the opening of our new concert hall at Rhos-y-gilwen, Neuadd-y-dderwen. From the moment she played the first few notes of the Albanez to the last piece by the great William Mathias the audience and I were transfixed by her passion for the harp and the skill with which she made an hour seem like five minutes. More, more, more please... let's keep hearing more of Catrin
Mon Sep 11 09:55:41 2006

Brian, Llundain (London)
My 4 year old daughter, also Catrin has really begun to show an interest in my harp. On hearing of her interest when I sought Catrin's autograph her father Chris Finch sent my Catrin a wonderful signed photo to inspire her. A really great gesture accompanied by sincere best wishes. Thank you Chris and thank you Catrin.
Tue Sep 13 22:25:10 2005

Eddie Reynolds, London
I am aware of Catrin and her success only through her father who I worked for several years ago. I have heard nothing of her since until reading this article. I am only writing really to congratulate her on her choice of husband. I met Hywel a couple of times, years back, and think the world of him, good luck to you both.
Thu Nov 11 12:50:31 2004

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