JURY PRESIDENT
SIONED WILLIAMS (WALES, UK)

Following years of touring as a soloist and with all the major British orchestras, Sioned became principal harp of the BBCSO, a position she held for 28 years. Working with respected conductors and composers, as orchestral member and concerto soloist, she performed in hundreds of premières, on Radio 3 and in television broadcasts. Renowned for commissioning new works for harp, a passionate researcher, scholar and narrator, she delivers engaging presentations on a range of subjects, performing music from the 17th Century to the present day.
In recitals, Sioned has collaborated with distinguished players and singers including Steven Isserlis, Aurèle Nicolet, Mark Padmore, Andrew Watts and Roderick Williams. Her performances with choirs include The BBC Singers, The Holst Singers, Tenebrae, The Choristers of Westminster Cathedral and Abbey, King’s College Cambridge, and St Paul’s Cathedral; her extensive discography includes partnerships with James Galway, Lisa Milne, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, Frederica von Stade, The Brodsky Quartet and The Sixteen.

Sioned pioneered integrated harp courses in Britain and is enterprising in her creative workshops, lectures, seminars and masterclasses. President of the UK Harp Association for 14 years, Sioned was made an Honorary Member; she was the first Welsh board member of the World Harp Congress, and is an Honorary Fellow in Research at the RAM. Appearing on panels for international competitions and harp examinations at music conservatoires, Sioned also writes articles and reviews harp music and recordings.

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