Harp Festival 2026

22 – 23 June
Silk Street Lecture Recital Room
Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Guildhall School’s 2026 Harp Festival offers two days of immersive music‑making, historical discovery and contemporary creativity, celebrating the harp’s rich past and vibrant present.

Monday 22 June

The festival opens with a rare encounter with the harp’s earliest ancestors. Visiting artists Lina Palera and Theodoros Koumartzis from Greece lead a hands‑on workshop exploring authentic replicas of ancient lyres, followed by Joy Smith’s evocative recital Forgotten Roads, where storytelling and historical harps bring centuries‑old melodies vividly to life.

The afternoon continues with Echoes of Antiquity, a recital of reconstructed ancient Greek music and new compositions for lyre, before turning to the 20th century with Britten’s Harp, a guided tour of the composer’s ground-breaking writing for the instrument. The day concludes with Contemporary Music for Harp, featuring new chamber works including a world première, and a special Celebrity Lecture‑Recital with Sioned Williams, celebrating the 200th birthday of Royal Harpist John Thomas through music, narrative and a rare exhibition of original archival materials.

Tuesday 23 June

The festival’s second day offers a unique insight into the professional world, as Heidi Krutzen, Principal Harp of the Philharmonia Orchestra, leads a full‑day Mock Orchestral Audition for Guildhall harpists. With a two‑round format including a screened first round, this event offers an invaluable glimpse into the realities of orchestral auditioning.

Whether you're a harp enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this festival invites everyone to experience the instrument's extraordinary range.

Admission to all events is free, no tickets required