“I truly believe that music has the power to uplift and unite people. Whether I’m performing, teaching, or running the festival, it all comes back to that spark I first felt as a child.”
Louise Thomson is a versatile and accomplished harpist, with an innovative and virtuosic approach that enables her to explore the instrument’s capabilities to the full. Her exceptional talent has taken her to some of the UK’s most prestigious concert venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
She has performed with many of the country’s leading ensembles, including the Hallé, Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Concert Orchestra. Louise has appeared live on BBC Radio 3 and made her television debut on BBC 1’s ‘Heaven and Earth’ show, performing alongside soprano Katherine Jenkins.
She spoke about her journey with the harp: “I first fell in love with the harp as a young girl after seeing a concert. I was completely captivated by the sound, the beauty, the sheer presence of the instrument. That moment set me on a path I’ve followed ever since, and today I feel so lucky to share that passion through performing, teaching, and creating opportunities for others to experience the magic of the harp for themselves.
“After training at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, I’ve had the privilege of performing in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and am proud to be a recording artist with Chandos Records. But beyond the stage, what gives me the most joy is teaching and building an inclusive community around this instrument that means so much to me. I currently teach at Withington Girls’ School, Manchester Grammar School, Chetham’s School of Music. and am a visiting professor at the RNCM. When I first started teaching, I had just one pupil — now, in the North West, we have one of the largest and most thriving school-based harp communities in the country. I’m so proud of the brilliant, creative young people I work with every day. They constantly inspire me”. She added, A huge part of my mission is to make the harp more inclusive. It’s often seen as elite or out of reach, but I want to break down those barriers. That’s what led me to launch the Manchester Harp Festival in 2024 — to bring the UK harp community together in Manchester and showcase everything this instrument can be.
It’s a weekend of concerts, workshops, competitions and, most importantly, outreach — introducing the harp to those who might never otherwise encounter it.
“The inaugural festival was a dream come true. We welcomed harpists and audiences from across the UK and were honoured to feature Anneleen Lenaerts, Principal Harp of the Vienna Philharmonic, as our headline performer. School ensembles from RNCM, Chetham’s and Withington Girls’ School all performed, alongside a wide range of community and student showcases. The response from audiences and players was overwhelmingly positive.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we have exciting plans to build on that momentum, including welcoming Mared Emyr Pugh-Evans, the current Royal Harpist to King Charles III, who will perform and share her experience in this prestigious role. We hope she’ll also support our expanded outreach efforts, including working with young people in areas of low arts access.
“I truly believe that music has the power to uplift and unite people. Whether I’m performing, teaching, or running the festival, it all comes back to that spark I first felt as a child. Now I want to pass that spark on — and help others discover just how powerful and joyful the harp can be.
“As we plan for the 2026 Manchester Harp Festival, I’m excited by the possibilities — but also aware that, like many cultural initiatives, it relies on the support of sponsors and partners to bring it to life. If you share our belief in the power of music to inspire, connect and open doors, I would love to hear from you. Together, we can ensure this festival continues to grow and thrive, reaching even more young people, schools and communities across the region”.
To donate to Manchester Harp Festival visit: https://buy.stripe.com/3cI5kEetz9H7eQ9glR33W00
