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Biography

Mared Emyr Pugh-Evans is an international prize winning harpist from Borth, Ceredigion. She is a freelance musician based in London and works with the Music for Life programme at Wigmore Hall. From September 2022 to July 2023 she was an Open Academy Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music's Learning and Participation programme. She graduated with an MA (Performance - 1st Class), LRAM and DipRAM from the Royal Academy of Music in 2022 having studied under Karen Vaughan, Head of Harp; received her First Class Honours BMus degree in 2020 from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff with Caryl Thomas; and her DipABRSM (Harp) in 2019. 

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A regular recitalist on both national and international stages, Mared has won numerous awards for her playing including the prestigious 2022 National Eisteddfod Blue Riband for instrumentalists 19 and over; 2022 USA International Harp Competition 6th Place (HarpMasters Prize); Skaila Kanga Harp Prize (RAM) 2022; the Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize for the most Outstanding Instrumentalist 2020, the 2019 Nansi Richards Scholarship, the Caernarfon International Harp Festival 2018 & 2014, the 2010 Felix Godefroid Harp Competition, the National Eisteddfod Harp Solo 2019, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2009, the National Eisteddfod Instrumental Blue Riband 2013 and was the recipient of the 2019 RWCMD McGrenery Prize for Chamber Music, the 2019 RWCMD Mansel Thomas Prize, the 2013 John Thomas Memorial Competition and placed second in the CAMAC Harp Competition at the North London Festival of Music 2019. 

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Mared is an avid chamber musician and made her professional solo debut with the English Chamber Orchestra in 2022 under the baton of composer conductor Patrick Hawes. She has also performed with The London Concert Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall. She was honoured to be invited to stage a lunchtime concert with her trio at the World Harp Congress in Cardiff 2022 celebrating trios from the British Isles. 

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Mared has had the honour of playing for HRH Prince of Wales' 70th Birthday Tour, Paul Patterson’s 70th Birthday Celebrations, St David's Day Reception for International Dignitaries on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the 20th Anniversary of the National Assembly of Wales. She made her concerto debut in February 2019 with the Cardiff City Symphony Orchestra and has toured with the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra, the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, the South Wales 6 Counties Orchestra and the Surrey International Harp Ensemble. 

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Mared has performed worldwide including: Italy, Thailand, Belgium, Hungary, Paris and has played in masterclasses for: Anneleen Lanaerts, Sacha Boldachev, Catrin Finch, Isabelle Perrin, Marisa Robles, Edward Witsenburg, Elinor Bennett, Deborah Henson-Conant and David Watkins.

Awards

Winner National Eisteddfod Instrumental Blue Riband 19 years and over 2022

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USA International Harp Competition, Bloomington - 6th Place (HarpMasters Prize) 2022

Winner Skaila Kanga Harp Prize (RAM) 2022

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Winner Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize for the Most Outstanding Instrumentalist 2020

Winner Nansi Richards Scholarship 201
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Winner RWCMD McGrenery Prize for Chamber Music 2019

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Winner RWCMD Mansel Thomas Prize 2019

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2nd Prize - CAMAC Harp Competition at the North London Festival of Music 2019

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Winner - Caernarfon International Harp Festival 2018 & 2014

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Winner National Eisteddfod Instrumental Blue Riband 2013

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 Winner Felix Godefroid Harp Competition 2010

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Winner National Eisteddfod Harp Solo 2019, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2009

 

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