GreenSpring Foundation is pleased to present this FREE concert, which is made possible through the generous support of the Maryland State Arts Council and the Tourism Council of Frederick County, as well as supporters like you!

GreenSpring International Academy of Music

10621 Old Frederick Road, Thurmont, MD 21788

Saturday April 6th at 2:00pm

Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1985, Claire began her musical education at the age of seven. After excelling at the violin, piano and harp, she graduated as a harpist from the Royal College of Music with First Class Honours in 2007 and in 2009 graduated as an M.A. scholar from the Royal Academy of Music.  Claire Jones was one of the first recipients of the Prince of Wales Advanced Study Awards in 2007 and 2008. This award recognised her as one of Wales' most outstanding young talents. In 2007, Claire was appointed Official Harpist to His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, a role she held until 2011, making her the longest serving Royal harpist to date. During this appointment, Claire regularly performed for the Royal Family and their distinguished guests at the Royal Palaces. In April 2011 she performed for the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at their wedding reception in Buckingham Palace. In 2008, Claire made her concerto debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and since then has gone on to perform as a soloist with some of the World's leading orchestras.  Claire is passionate about promoting her instrument as well as performing, and regularly visits schools and communities to speak and demonstrate and is the director of the International Harp School based in Wales. This year will be the third year of the partnership between Summer Harp Institutes based in Richmond, VA with the International Harp School in Wales.