Soraya Vermeulen is an award-winning harpist based in Leicestershire and Greater London.
About Me
Soraya graduated in 2014 from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London, with a Masters in Music with Distinction following a BMus First Class Honours Degree in harp performance.
Soraya was also awarded a high Distinction in an LTCL Diploma for Music Teaching. Born in Leicestershire, and previously a music scholar at Oakham School, Soraya has been playing harp since she was 7 years old. She studied under Gabriella Dall’Olio, and studied early music on the triple harp with Frances Kelly. Soraya gained a Leverhulme Arts Scholarship to continue her studies on a Masters of Music Performance course, and was awarded a Musicians Benevolent Fund Postgraduate Performance Award. Alongside these prestigious awards Soraya was also presented with a Penske Automotive Scholarship and City Livery Club Prize for Excellence.
Soraya has won many prizes for her playing in festivals and competitions, including Leicester Young Performer of the Year aged just 13 and the John Marson Harp Prize, (for an outstanding and creative musician), in 2012, leading to a solo recital at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. During these years she has also participated in many masterclasses with such eminent harpists as Fabrice Pierre, Sylvain Blassel, Letitzia Belmondo and Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche.
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My Experience
Soraya had her concerto debut at St John’s, Smith Square, London, at the age of 15, and has travelled widely with her harp, playing both solo and orchestral works in Spain, Belgium, France and Portugal. She has played in many prestigious venues in the UK including The Royal Albert Hall, London Barbican, Cardiff Millennium Centre, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Festival Hall at London’s South Bank. She has also performed, among others, alongside, Andrea Bocelli, Rod Stewart, Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Gregory Porter, Pixie Lott, Laura Mvula, Katie Melua and the West End cast of War Horse.
Regularly invited to play for dignitaries, Soraya has performed for members of the Royal family, including Her Majesty the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and also for Lord Lieutenants. She has worked closely with composer Amir Sadeghi, with whom she has recorded a world premiere with the Marson Harp Trio for BBC Television, and also regularly plays as part of a flute & harp duo