A note from Olivia

The RPS Isserlis Scholarship will support my attendance at Harp Masters Academy in Mondovì, Italy: an intensive ten-day course bringing together leading international harpists and teachers. During the course, I will study a wide range of repertoire and techniques through individual lessons, performance practice, orchestral repertoire classes, private study and historical harp masterclasses. I am particularly looking forward to learning from many distinguished professors from across the globe, and to performing in the annual Harp Gala Concert at the end of the course. 

Harp Masters Academy will help me experience international perspectives and meet a community of harpists from around the world. While in Italy, I hope to broaden my musical understanding, develop greater technical assurance and artistic confidence, and bring this experience back into my future solo, chamber and orchestral work. I hope this experience will help me grow as a musician and performer, and take me one step closer to a future as a professional harpist. I am grateful to the Royal Philharmonic Society for selecting me as an RPS Isserlis Scholarship recipient, and for supporting this next stage of my musical journey.

Biography

Olivia Clark is a 17-year-old harpist from Reading. She began playing the harp at the age of eight, studying first with Liz Elliot and later with Anne Denholm. For the past two years, Olivia has studied with Miriam Keogh at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music in London. 

She’s proud to be Principal Harpist of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for 2026, and especially enjoys the energy, collaboration and scale of orchestral music. Playing alongside other young musicians has deepened Olivia’s love of ensemble performance and strengthened her ambition to become a professional harpist. Upcoming performances include concerto appearances with Reading Symphony Orchestra and Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra.

You can keep up to date with Olivia's work on her social media:

• Instagram