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Hannah Stone appointed new Royal Harpist for Prince Charles

Stone said: "I am honoured to have been appointed official harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales. I am proud to be promoting the harp, a central part of our Welsh heritage and to be following the fantastic example set by Claire [Jones].

"It's a huge role which will begin tonight and be the start of the most exciting part of my career so far."

Stone studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), and was a regular winner of prizes at the Urdd Eisteddfod in her youth. She also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Universitat Mozarteum in Salzburg. This appointment is not her first run-in with the royals: she most recently performed at the opening of the fourth session of the Welsh Assembly.

She follows not only Claire Jones, but Catrin Finch and and in her new role.

In other harp news, another RWCMD graduate, Gwenllian LlÅ·r, has become the first Welsh harpist to be given a place at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. The Swansea musician starts her two year masters degree in August, after a series of high-profile wins and guest slots with artists including Bryn Terfel.