Current Official Royal Harpist, Alis Huws is a freelance soloist, orchestral and chamber musician. Alongside her royal role, she regularly gives recitals across the UK and internationally, having toured to Japan, Europe, the US and Hong Kong.
As a soloist, Alis has performed at many high-profile engagements including the Welsh National Service of Prayer and Reflection for HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Royal Opening of the Senedd 2016 and 2021, The Welsh National Thanksgiving Service for VJ Day and the opening of the Welsh Government’s offices in Berlin. She has performed at a number of prestigious venues including Sony Hall (NYC), 10 Downing Street, Windsor Castle, St James’ Palace and St David’s Hall. In 2019 she appeared as a soloist with Britten Sinfonia, which was later broadcast on Classic FM. Additionally her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and all major UK television channels.
Alis is passionate about outreach and bringing music into communities, giving regular interactive concerts for people living with dementia as well as working with children with additional needs. She recently embarked on a tour of 30 primary schools across rural Powys to celebrate 30 years of Live Music Now’s work in Wales.
Alis is a keen orchestral musician and enjoys working with orchestras across the UK including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Welsh National Opera and the London Chamber Orchestra. In 2020-22 she was part of the LPO’s Foyle Future Firsts development scheme.
Having started harp lessons with Ieuan Jones, Alis went on to study with Caryl Thomas at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), where she obtained her Bachelor and Master’s degrees. As part of her studies, Alis also spent time in Amsterdam on the Erasmus scheme, studying with renowned harpist Erika Waardenburg.
At RWCMD, she was awarded the Midori Matsui Prize for Music, the Royal Welch Fusiliers Harp Prize, the McGrennery Chamber Music Prize, and the Rev. Paul Bigmore Music in the Community Award. She was made an Honorary Associate there in 2022 (ARWCMD). Her studies were generously supported by the Tillett Trust, The Biddy Baxter and John Hosier Trust, the Arts Council of Wales, the EMI Sound Foundation and a Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Award.
In demand as a soprano soloist, Jessica has sung solo with the London Symphony Chorus, Ealing Common Choir and Harwich and Dovercourt Choral Society and is the featured soprano in Wanstead’s annual opera gala “Glamour on the Green”. She has sung in multiple BBC Proms concerts, and PHAB’s Christmas Fundraising Event and in ITV’s “The Halcyon”.
Jessica regularly leads workshops in person and remotely with schools, corporate groups and choirs around Henley-on-Thames, London, Milton Keynes and Cambridge.