Programme - 25 April 2025

Marcel Grandjany: Rhapsodie

John Thomas: Watching the Wheat

Albert Zabel: La Source, op. 23

Ekaterina Walter-Kühne: Fantaisie Sur Un Theme De L’Opera Eugene Onegin par P. Tchaikovsk

Bedřich Smetana, arr. Hans Trnecek: The Moldau

Esther Swift: Time Spinner

Henriette Renié: Légende, after Les Elfes by Leconte de Lisle

Louise Thomson is a versatile and accomplished harpist, with an innovative and virtuosic approach that enables her to explore the instrument’s capabilities to the full. She performs on a Salvi Diva, a one-of-a-kind, personalised pedal harp that gives voice to both her technical brilliance and artistic expression.

Her exceptional talent has taken her to prestigious concert venues across the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. She has performed with leading ensembles such as the Hallé, Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Concert Orchestra. Louise has appeared live on BBC Radio 3 and made her television debut on BBC 1's ‘Heaven and Earth’ show, performing alongside soprano Katherine Jenkins.

Recent highlights of Louise’s career include performances at the Buxton, Ryedale and Ripon Festivals, as well as a residency at the 2023 Whiddon Autumn Festival. In addition to her solo work Louise regularly collaborates with the Corvus Consort, and their recording ‘Welcome Joy’, a celebration of women’s voices, was released by Chandos Records in 2024 to critical acclaim.

Beyond her performing career, Louise is a dedicated and passionate teacher, holding positions at Chetham’s School of Music, Withington Girls’ School and The Manchester Grammar School. She also serves as a visiting tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music and as the harp tutor at Huddersfield University. In 2022, Louise was selected to perform at the World Harp Congress in collaboration with presenter Polly Ives. Together, they frequently present in schools and theatres as part of ‘Concerteenies’, an award-winning producer of musical events for young children and their families. In 2024, Louise curated and served as the musical director of the inaugural Manchester Harp Festival.