Mary Morley

Mary Morley began playing the harp at the age of seven, and studied under Mair Jones of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.  At the age of fourteen she was accepted as a pupil of the late Russian harp teacher Renata Scheffel-Stein, and studied with her until gaining an Honours Degree in Music and Media Studies from the University of Kent in 1983. 

Mary then went on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, where she studied with David Watkins for a further 2 years. In her time there she won a Cripplegate Scholarship, and was also awarded the Max Hext Prize for outstanding contribution to Chamber Music, and the Sir Carl Meyer Memorial Prize for general excellence.

Mary has given numerous harp recitals both in this country and abroad at weddings and various other functions, and has brought out a cd which is available for sale. Mary now combines a career of performing, as well as teaching at The King’s School Canterbury, Kent College Canterbury and St. Edmund’s School Canterbury.
 
Mary has a great deal of experience in this field, and has played for functions at venues such as Althorp, Ashford International Hotel, Boys Hall Ashford, Audley End House, Barbican Centre, Canterbury Cathedral, Chart Hills Golf Club, Chilston Park Country House Hotel, Cooling Castle Barn, Eastwell Manor, Knowle Country House, Leeds Castle, Little Silver Country Hotel, Lympne Castle, Reads Restaurant, Rowhill Grange, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St Augustine’s Priory Bilsington, Salmestone Grange, Sharsted Court, Waltham Court Hotel and Whitstable Castle.

Although many of the above venues are in Kent, Mary is looking to has extend her venues to include East Sussex, Surrey and Essex, but the prices will be increased to take into account the extra travelling time and transport costs.

Mary is available as a wedding harpist, or to play the harp at private functions e.g. corporate entertainment, lunches, dinners, birthday parties etc, but an early booking is recommended as she will only play at one venue per day. 

She performs a wide variety of music ranging from classical to light popular, is happy to provide a musical background for virtually any occasion, and will always discuss particular requests with clients.