Heather chats with Gwenllian about building a professional harp career while navigating doubt, burnout, performance anxiety, and the pressure to prove yourself through difficult repertoire.

They explore teaching, composition, chamber music, Welsh musical roots, and the importance of choosing music you genuinely love.

In this episode:

• How Gwenllian came to the harp after starting first on violin and piano

• Learning with her mother, then moving on to other teachers who shaped her path

• Doubts about becoming a professional musician and why languages nearly won out over music

• Burnout after study and competition, and how stepping away helped her reconnect with the harp

• Performance anxiety, mindset shifts, and finding ways to make performing work for her

• Why teaching is such a central and meaningful part of her career

• Writing and publishing music for students, including her upcoming collection The Curved Path

• Chamber music, commissions, and performing with flautist Sirius Chau

• Her advice to learners: play something you love

This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about making a musical life on your own terms and staying connected to the music that matters most to you.

Host:

Heather Downie - Harpist, Principal Lever Harp Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Founder of How To Harp

Guest:

Gwenllian Llyr - Harpist, Teacher, Composer, and Guest Tutor in the How To Harp Membership

Learn with us:

https://www.HowToHarp.com (membership, courses, retreats)

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