In the 45th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces harpists Oliver Wass and Lise Vandersmissen, who will be performing in Wanstead this month
Redbridge Music Society continues its aim of bringing high-quality musical events to the borough with a recital given by award-winning young harpists Oliver Wass and Lise Vandersmissen. Their recital will include music by Bizet, de Falla, Tarrega, Ortiz (South American folk music) and The Beatles.
Belgian harpist Lise Vandersmissen graduated ‘magna cum laude’ at LUCA School of Arts, Belgium, followed by a Master’s degree (distinction) and a two-year fellowship programme at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has won many awards, including first prize at the International Harp Competition in Slovenia, the Guildhall Harp Prize and the Culture Prize in Bilzen, Belgium.
Lise has played as a concerto soloist with orchestras in the UK, Poland, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands, both on the modern pedal harp and on the Italian triple harp. She is also a chamber ensemblist, playing in the Duo Molinello and Aglica Trio ensembles, and as a continuo player, she has performed with the English Touring Opera, London Händel Festival Orchestra and La Nuova Musica. In 2019, she gave the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Four Meditations for solo harp (a work dedicated to her) and to date has released two albums.
Oliver Wass holds a first-class Master’s degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Imogen Barford. He has won many prizes at international harp competitions, including those held in Italy, Slovenia and Hungary and in 2016 became the first harpist ever to win the Guildhall Gold Medal, the Guildhall’s most prestigious prize (previous winners include Jacqueline du Pré, Bryn Terfel and Tasmin Little).
Oliver plays modern and early harps and owns an Italian triple harp and a Spanish cross-strung harp. He is in much demand as a chamber, concerto and orchestral player and has performed at prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and Barbican Hall. He has performed every major harp concerto and has appeared with many orchestras
Oliver’s flute-viola-harp trio, The Pelléas Ensemble, has won many awards, including the Grand and Audience Prizes in the St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Music Competition. Their debut CD was released by Linn Records in 2021 and their next album will be released this year by Tactus Records.
Their recital will be a very special evening. Please come along and hear these outstanding young harpists as they celebrate music of many genres.
The recital will take place at Wanstead Library on 15 April from 8pm (tickets on the door; visitors: £12; members: £9). Call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is affiliated to Making Music.
