MEET THE FOUNDERS

Natalie Lurie and Glain Dafydd met while pursuing their Master’s degrees at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where they discovered a shared vision: to create a harp centre that nurtures creativity, community, and excellence for harpists of all ages and levels. Their friendship and musical collaboration laid the foundation for Hampstead Harp Centre, where they now combine their experience as performers and educators to inspire the next generation of harpists.

  • Glain Dafydd - Harpist London

    Glain Dafydd

    FOUNDER

    A distinguished performer and passionate educator, Glain Dafydd has received acclaim both nationally and internationally. Her accolades include the Bryn Terfel Scholarship, the Blue Ribbon at the National Eisteddfod, and the City of Szeged Prize at Hungary’s Szeged International Competition. She was also a string finalist in both the BBC Young Musician and Royal Over-Seas League competitions.

    Glain trained at the École Normale de Musique de Paris and the Royal Academy of Music. Her solo and chamber music appearances have taken her to major venues such as Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and the British Embassy in Paris, as well as to festivals including the Three Choirs Festival, MusicFest Aberystwyth, and the Fishguard International Music Festival. She has performed as a soloist with the European Union Chamber Orchestra and toured the United States with the Penrhyn Male Voice Choir.

    A dedicated member of Live Music Now, Glain brings her passion for music education to both her private teaching and her roles at Queen’s College London, Putney School of Art & Design, and Weybridge School.

  • Natalie Lurie - Harp Tutor London

    Natalie Lurie

    FOUNDER

    Celebrated for her versatility, Natalie Lurie is a classically trained harpist whose work spans classical, contemporary, and experimental pop music. She has performed with a range of ensembles including the London Contemporary Music Festival Orchestra, the King’s College Boys Choir, and the Corinthian Chamber Orchestra, and is a recent Fellow of the Philharmonia Orchestra.

    Natalie trained at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, studying with renowned harpists such as Germaine Lorenzini, Isabelle Moretti, Skaila Kanga, Sivan Magen, and Susann McDonald.

    Her performances have taken her to international festivals, and she was a featured artist at the 150th anniversary celebration of Lyon & Healy Harps. Dedicated to expanding the harp’s role in modern music, Natalie’s pop arrangements—such as her acclaimed rendition of Rolling in the Deep, which has received over 350,000 views—have reached wide audiences. Her original compositions have appeared on television, and she has worked extensively as a session harpist, first in Nashville and now in London, where she also collaborates with contemporary artists.

    Alongside her performing career, Natalie is deeply committed to teaching. She offers private instruction and teaches at Dragon School, South Hampstead High School for Girls, and Channing School. She has also completed a postgraduate diploma from the Tavistock Centre, enriching her understanding of children’s emotional development through a psychoanalytic perspective.