Catherine White

After winning several prestigious awards in her native USA, she toured widely presenting hundreds of solo and chamber recitals, including the Carnegie Recital Hall, as well as concertos at Lincoln Center and in the UK. Chamber music collaborations include performances with flautist Philippa Davies, violist Robin Ireland formerly of the Lindsay String Quartet, violinist Lesley Hatfield, the Gaudier Ensemble, English Serenata and the flute and harp duo Arietta.

Her broadcasts on television and radio include being featured as composer as well as performer on National Public Radio (USA), as well as live solo and chamber music for the BBC and Czech television. She has presented several performances at the World Harp Congress (Copenhagen 1993, Prague 1999 and Amsterdam 2008). In addition to her solo CD recording Bouquet for Harp, she was a member of the ensemble of 16 international harpists of the London Harp Sound and its two recent recordings, The London Harp Sound and Baby Harp.

As an orchestral harpist, Catherine has played regularly as principal with the Ulster Orchestra. In addition, she has performed with most of the major London symphony, opera, and ballet orchestras, not only in the UK but also abroad in the leading concert halls of Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and throughout Europe with distinguished conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Bernard Haitink.

Now teaching has become a major focus. In addition to teaching at the Royal Academy of Music, she has previously taught at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she was visiting professor and also at Trinity College of Music. She has presented masterclasses at most of the UK music conservatories and on specialist harp courses. Her former students hold orchestral and teaching positions around the world. Catherine brings a unique perspective to her teaching, having studied both in the Salzedo tradition and with Susann McDonald, one of Renié’s last and most devoted students.

Less formally, she has entertained notables ranging from Frank Sinatra to HRH The Prince of Wales, and has been honoured to play for British and foreign royalty on many occasions. For nearly 11 years Catherine held a residency at Le Meridien Hotel in London’s Piccadilly and very much enjoys performing and arranging light music.

Catherine earned her Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she also held a teaching fellowship in Ear Training, and her Bachelor of Music degree from the distinguished Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress.