Hannah Stone

Hannah Stone (born 27 April 1987) is a professional Welsh harpist. Since 2007 she has performed internationally and won a number of prizes, and from 2011 to 2015 was Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales.

Hannah Stone
Hannah Stone in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Hannah Stone
Born	(1987-04-27) 27 April 1987
Origin	Mumbles, Swansea, Wales
Genres	Classical Harp
Occupation(s)	Harpist
Years active	2011–present
Website	Hannah Stone

Education

Stone attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bryn-y-Môr (primary school, ages 4–11) and Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, Gowerton (Secondary ages 11–18). She then trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, gaining the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Music.

As part of an exchange program Stone studied at the Universitat Mozarteum, Salzburg, under Professor Helga Storck. In 2010 she furthered her studies at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD), Cardiff, where she graduated in 2012.[1]

Career

Hannah Stone began performing at the age of 8. When she was 15, she played for The Queen on Her Majesty's Jubilee Tour of Wales in 2002, and has played for the Royal Family on several other occasions.[2] She studied under the guidance of Meinir Heulyn, Head of Harp at the RWCMD before moving to London. During this time she was a prize-winner at National Competitions including the Urdd Eisteddfod and the International Eisteddfod.

In 2007 she performed in the European Harp Symposium and reached the semi-finals of the European Harp Competition.

In October 2008, Stone was selected to represent the Guildhall School in collaboration with the Academies Festival Orchestra, Singapore. This project culminated in an opening gala performance for the Singapore Sun Festival at the Esplanade Theatre with Dame Kiri te Kanawa.[2] In 2008 she was awarded the third prize at the Camac Harp Competition, London, and won the first prize at the National Eisteddfod,[3] Cardiff.

During 2010 Stone was awarded the 3rd prize at the International Harp Competition in Caernarfon and 2nd prize at the Franz Joseph Reinl Competition in Vienna. She was also appointed principal harpist with the Schleswig Holstein Festival Orchestra for 2010,[2] touring Europe throughout the summer, working with many distinguished artists including baritone Thomas Hampson.

In June 2011 Stone was appointed the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales.[2][4]

Hannah Stone performed at the NATO Conference Dinner at Cardiff Castle in 2014 to delegates including US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.[1] Her performance venues in Wales have included the Wales Millennium Centre and St David's Hall, Cardiff.

Personal life

Stone was born in Swansea and grew up in Treboeth and Mumbles.[5] She married singer Gary Griffiths in the early 2010s, but after two years the couple split up.[6]

In 2017 she had a daughter by Sir Bryn Terfel,[7] whom she married on 26 July 2019 at Caersalem Newydd Baptist Church in Swansea; she does not use the title "Lady Terfel". She wore a dress by Pronovias.[5]

Media

Stone has appeared on Wedi 7 and the National Eisteddfod (S4C).

References

1. "Harlequin Agency: Hannah Stone". Retrieved 9 March 2015.
2. "Hannah Stone becomes new official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
3. "About Hannah Stone (own website)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
4. "The Prince of Wales: The Arts". Retrieved 9 March 2015.
5. Cooper, John (26 July 2019). "Bryn Terfel marries harpist Hannah Stone in Wales on 'magical' day". walesonline.
6. Victoria Ward (8 July 2015). "Royal harpist who ran off with opera singer is replaced". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
7. "Baby for Sir Bryn Terfel and harpist Hannah Stone". BBC. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2018-06-30.

External links

• Hannah Stone's Website

Court offices
Preceded by Claire Jones	Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales 2011–2015	Succeeded by Anne Denholm