Catrin Finch
Encyclopedia
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist born in Llanon
Llanon
Llanon is a village in Ceredigion, Wales. It adjoins the village of Llansantffraed on the coast of Cardigan Bay, five miles north of Aberaeron and south of Aberystwyth on the A487 road. It is built on a raised beach....
, Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. She was the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
The Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales is a position within the Royal Household. In 2000, Charles, Prince of Wales revived a tradition of having Welsh harpists, which was the first time the post has been occupied since it was last granted to John Thomas in 1871 by Queen Victoria.The harp is an...
from 2000 to 2004 and is Visiting Professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is a conservatoire within the University of Glamorgan Group located in Cardiff, Wales....
and the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. Finch has given many recitals at different venues throughout the world and was the youngest ever member in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
Successes
In 2000, she won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, subsequently performing at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
. She was later appointed official harpist to the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, a role abandoned since the reign of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
In recognition of her musical achievements, Finch was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Wales in 2006, as well as Honorary Fellowships from the University of Wales
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is a conservatoire within the University of Glamorgan Group located in Cardiff, Wales....
in 2005.
In 2010, Catrin Finch appeared as part of the BBC Children's television series ZingZillas
ZingZillas
ZingZillas is a television programme aimed at young children, broadcast on the BBC pre-school channel CBeebies.-Overview:ZingZillas is a music show aimed at the under sixes....
, performing a lullaby composed by Chris Banks and Wag Marshall-Page
Banks & Wag
Banks & Wag are award-winning composers based in London.Chris Banks and Wag Marshall-Page studied Commercial Music together at the University of Westminster . After graduation, Chris studied Composition For Sceen at the Royal College of Music , continuing to perform with Wag as members of indie...
entitled "Drift Away", alongside the other members of the ZingZillas band. The performance was used in Series 1, Episode 10 of the show, entitled "Sweet Dreams".
Personal life
In 2003, Finch married Hywel Wigley and on 28 December 2007, Finch gave birth to a baby girl, Ana Gwen.Discography
- Bach, J.S.: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (2009)
- Crossing the Stone (2003)
- Carnaval de Venise
- The Harpist
- Catrin Finch Live
- Unexpected SongsUnexpected Songs-Track listing":# "Star of the County Down"/"Lady D'Arbanville" by Cat Stevens/Trad. arr. Chowhan# "Oblivion" by Ástor Piazzolla arr. Lenehan# "Marble Halls" by Michael Balfe# "Prelude in E minor" by Frédéric Chopin...
(2006) (with cellist Julian Lloyd WebberJulian Lloyd WebberJulian Lloyd Webber is a British solo cellist who has been described as the "doyen of British cellists".-Early life:Julian Lloyd Webber is the second son of the composer William Lloyd Webber and his wife Jean Johnstone . He is the younger brother of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber...
) - String Theory
- Little Angels
- Catrin Finch, Harp Recital
- From Coast to Coast
- Drift Away (Not released - in conjunction with "ZingZillas")