It was when she joined local teacher Katie McClaughry that her love for the harp blossomed, and she went on to receive an unconditional offer to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. As part of her degree, Bethany and her fellow students were required to perform a solo recital, which would be formally assessed and contribute to their overall grades. Afterwards, they were informed that an award would be presented to the student with the highest mark.

The award was a brooch, owned by His Majesty the King and previously loaned to the Prince of Wales Harpist, prior to the king’s succession to the throne in 2022. Bethany was taken aback when it was announced that she would be receiving the brooch and, at a special awards ceremony, she was presented with the award by Dame Shirley Bassey and Grahame Davies, former Private Secretary to the king.

Reflecting on the day, Bethany said: “When I discovered that I had won the award, I was completely shocked. I hadn’t expected it at all, and it was incredibly rewarding to see my hard work recognised."

Bethany graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with a First Class Honours degree.

On returning home, she launched her own business, The Cornish Harpist, performing at events of all kinds while also working as a harp teacher. One student who has benefi ted from Bethany’s teaching is Launceston College student Robin, whose parents first approached Bethany to ask for a one-off lesson. Robin’s talents as a harpist quickly shone through, and she is now a fulltime student.

“I truly mean it when I say she is a joy to teach,” Bethany continued. “Her ability to absorb knowledge like a sponge is remarkable, and her dedication over the past few months has been exceptional.”

She added: “One of my main goals is to make the harp an accessible instrument for people in Cornwall and further if I can, so that as many people as possible can experience it. I take great pride in my teaching and always aim to make lessons enjoyable and tailored to what my students genuinely want to learn.

“While I always ensure my students develop strong technical foundations, what matters most to me is that they enjoy making music.”

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