Katherine Thomas is a harpist who has performed with artists ranging from Bryn Terfel and Rolando Villazon to Katherine Jenkins and the Manic Street Preachers. She has toured extensively as a soloist and with orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera where she holds the post of Principal Harp. She has worked closely with many of the world's finest conductors including Sakari Oramo and Sir Simon Rattle. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Katherine plays the traditional Celtic and triple harps as well as the pedal harp. Her recordings range from classical music and traditional Welsh music to contemporary recordings, with recent projects including new releases by Sheku Kanneh-Mason and The Four Seasons re-imagined with the CBSO. As a chamber musician, Katherine is a member of the Enigma Duo with violinist Laurence Kempton. Replacing the harpsichord and used as a continuo instrument in works such as sonatas by Handel and Corelli, the harp then becomes an entire orchestra as in their version of Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances and Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns. Striving to expand the repertoire for their combination, the duo compose and commission new works, challenge the boundaries of the harp’s capabilities - no more so than in the Cesar Franck violin sonata. As a former student of Meinir Heulyn (who is Co-Director of Alaw), it was always inevitable that Katherine would be drawn into the world of teaching and arranging. Working with Alaw, Katherine has compiled and edited the by now world-renowned four volumes of Scales and Arpeggios for harp students preparing for the Asscociated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations.

from www.alawmusic.com