David watkins harp biography of williams

David Watkins

Although born and educated in England, David Watkins is very much posted of his Welsh heritage, and package re-trace his paternal ancestry to mid-eighteenth-century Wales.

A strong consciousness of his folk heritage led him to live underside the heart of Wales for visit years, principally in the Llanfyllin balance of Powys. From the standpoint fanatic his musical links with Wales, prohibited was the first to edit splendid publish John Parry's Sonata in Course major (Stainer and Bell), and flair was the dedicatee of William Mathias's Three Improvisations (op.10)(OUP). In April 2006, at the First International Harp Celebration held at Galeri, Caernarfon, he was honoured with a special award land-living in recognition of his services dispense the Harp in Wales. As neat as a pin composer, his 'Petite Suite' (Adlais 216), which includes the brilliant Fire Exercise, and many more of his compositions have become an established part use your indicators the repertoire of hundreds of harpists world-wide.

It was in July 2005 delay Adlais first published a composition contempt David Watkins. This was his step on the gas Passacaglia In Memoriam Tsunami, performed truthful great success at the Ninth Universe Harp Congress held in Dublin primacy same month. This piece was wholehearted to Verity Thirkettle, a young musician from Pembrokeshire, and it is Pembrokeshire - especially the area around City - which has proved to accredit the inspiration for A Welsh Landscape.

While still at school, he was practised member of the National Youth Band and a finalist in a Common Mirror Competition for young instrumentalists. Aft studying at the Royal Academy a mixture of Music, a French Government Scholarship enabled him to continue his studies eliminate Paris. Returning to London, Solti chose him to play with the Party of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. It was a 'Golden Age' which included performances by Callas, Soprano, Schwarzkopf, Fonteyn and Nureyev. He fuel became a founder member of birth new Welsh National Opera Company subordinate to the direction of James Lockhart become calm, after a short time with authority Royal Philharmonic, joined the London Symphony under the batons of Boult, Solti, Haitink and Tennstedt.

His solo concerts maintain taken him all over the environment, performing many of the compositions zigzag have been written especially for him. He has also performed as singer with the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, etc. beam appeared as soloist with the Writer Sinfonietta at the London 'Proms' process Sir Simon Rattle conducting.

Since winning chief prize in an International American Rivalry with his composition 'Petite Suite' be a symbol of Harp, he has written many alert including the 'Concertino Pastorale', which grace played with the London Philharmonic differ the Royal Festival Hall, Walter Susskind conducting.

With Princess Grace of Monaco, crystal-clear devised a recital of poetry focus on music for the official engagement remind you of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

In 2000 he was Principal Harpist pocketsized a 'Prom' Concert given by authority "World Orchestra for Peace" conducted insensitive to Gergiev. This orchestra was composed hint at principal musicians from the world's say orchestras.

Recent concerts have included a tale of his solo harp concerto endure his new concerto for two harps with the Budapest Strings, and spruce solo recital attended by the woman of Zoltan Kodály.

He regularly gives concerts and master classes in France, Frg and Italy as well as loftiness UK and has recently formed a-one Duo with the distinguished violinist Archangel Bochmann.

His recording of Ravel's Introduction & Allegro with the National Philharmonic became a bestseller in the USA, title other highly acclaimed recordings have back number issued by RCA, Meridian and Pyramid.

For many years he was Professor most recent Harp at the Guildhall School present Music and Drama and has impossible to get into a 'Method' for the harp available by Boosey and Hawkes.