News

Harpist Noelia Cotuna has achieved enormous success this week by winning first prize in the Camac Competition. 

The Camac is widely regarded as the UK’s most prestigious harp competition. It is open not only to undergraduate and postgraduate students from all UK conservatoires, but also to all graduates and professional harpists resident in the UK under the age of 30. This makes Noelia’s win as a first year undergraduate a particularly impressive achievement.

Head of Harp, Gabriella Dall’Olio, commented –

“Noelia performed a sensational final round in the Camac Competition. Her performance was spell-binding (her Danse des Lutins by Renie was from another galaxy!), and the jury were unanimous in awarding her the first prize. Her fellow students Juan Antonio Garcia and Michela Zanoni also gave touching and inspired performances in the final.

 All staff and students in the Harp Department at Trinity Laban are extremely happy for Noelia for her success in this prestigious competition and proud of her focus and total commitment.”

Trinity Laban’s world-renowned Harp Department has a history of success in this competition. The 2016 first prize recipient, Richard Allen, is also a Trinity Laban graduate and this year Noelia competed against fellow undergraduate Michela Zanoni and Masters student Juan Antonio Garcia, meaning that three of the five finalists were from Trinity Laban. Previous winners have included alumni Tamara Young and Claire Iselin.

Head of Strings, Nic Pendlebury, commented –

“To win the prestigious Camac Harp Competition is a fantastic achievement for Noelia. It is a tribute to the wonderful teaching Trinity Laban’s Harp Department offers and in particular to the knowledge and inspiration of her teacher Gabriella Dall”Olio. Noelia is already an outstanding musician and artist and will, I am sure, have a glittering career.”