Wednesday 8 Nov 2006

18.00-19.15, Room 18, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

A First-Prize winner of the 1996 Young Musician of the Year in the Richmond upon Thames Music Festival and of the 1997 Kingston upon Thames Festival of the Performing Arts (all in harp sections), the Romanian harpist Paula Popa started playing the harp at the ‘George Enescu’ Music High School in Bucharest, after which, between 1995 and 1998, she was a student of the Purcell School in London, as well as of the Royal College of Music, Junior Department.

In 1997 she was a finalist in the Gordon Turner Memorial Competition at the Royal College of Music. Paula is a World Harp Congress member and she attended many meetings of this international professional association (Copenhagen, Seattle and Prague).

Paula performed in concerts organized by the Purcell School both within and outside school events such as at the Windsor Castle and St. Martin in the Fields. In 2006 Paula performed at the National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Winchester Cathedral and additionally enjoyed a one hour lunch-time recital at Saint James’s Church, Piccadilly.

Following the completion of her Bachelor Degree and her Masters Degree at the Royal College of Music, Paula is currently under the guidance of the well-known harpist and Professor Mr. Ieuan Jones. She enjoys a busy schedule of orchestral freelancing and chamber music recitals.

While studying in London, Paula Popa was supported by the Ratiu Foundation UK