Jean Kelly

Harp

Normal | “Elegant, stylish and deliciously nuanced playing.” Irish IndependentJean Kelly hails from an Irish family of several generations of professional musicians. Jean won a scholarship to study harp at the Royal College of Music, London. She is in great demand as a versatile harpist, with an eclectic career ranging from Early Music to Contemporary Classical and Folk Music. She has recorded three CD's with the Locrian Ensemble, including Handel Harp Concerto and Mozart Flute and harp Concerto. A CD of Chamber Music by Richard Arnell was Editor’s Choice in Gramophone magazine. She has also recorded for the Guild and Stockfisch labels. Jean has performed on commercial film and TV soundtracks, for composers such as Debbie Wiseman, Jonny Greenwood, Max Richter and Dario Marianelli. She played solo harp on Michael Kiwanuka’s Mercury Prize winning album. Jean regularly guests with The Telling and The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments, playing medieval, gothic, celtic and triple harps. She loves the freedom of playing and improvising with these groups, extending beyond the printed notes, and drawing on her past musical influences.

Orchestral Experience
Aurora Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
Guy Barker Orchestra
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Max Richter Ensemble
National Symphony Orchestra
Locrian Ensemble
Opera Ireland
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
RTE Concert Orchestra
Session work for Hilary Skewes and Isobel Griffiths
Welsh National Opera
West End Shows as Dep; The Witches, Aspects of Love, 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, The King and I

Recordings

Celtic harp on ‘Lord of the Rings’ film soundtrack
Dancing in Tetuan – Joglaresa Fidel/Harp
Handel Concerto for Harp – Bracken Label
Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp – Bracken Label
Richard Arnell Chamber Music - Dutton Label
Solo Harp Soundtrack for film music by Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead
Voices – Ranagri – Celtic Harp
Von Glenk – Trio (flute, viola and harp) - Guild Label

Solo and Chamber Music Performances:
Regular Concert Tours with:
The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments
The Telling Music

Recent Solo/Duo Performances include:
Flute and Harp Recital for Borough New Music, National Concert Hall, Ireland, West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival
German Premiere of Sally Beamish – Seavaigers Concerto for fiddle and Celtic harp with Göttingen Symphony Orchestra
Handel – Harp Concerto at St. Martins-in-the-Fields & Cheltenham Town Hall with National Symphony Orchestra
Mozart – Flute and Harp Concerto Irish Tour with Irish Chamber Orchestra

Education/Community Work
Resident Music at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals for Breathe Arts Health Research (Arts in Healthcare)
Previously a member of Live Music Now!
Concert Tours for Lost Chord Charity – providing concerts for people living with dementia
Musician in Schools Education Projects for Aurora Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
RTE lyric fm Outreach Quartet tours to schools and residential carehomes.

Education
MA Music Performance Class 1 (Cork Institute of Technology)
BMus (hons) (Royal College of Music)

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MAS takes no responsibility for its accuracy.

Instruments
Harp, Celtic Harp, Remote Recording