Gabriella Dall’Olio

Qualifications and Background

Born in Bologna, Italy, Gabriella began her musical studies at the Conservatory of Bologna. As a student of Anna Loro, she received her harp diploma with honours from the Conservatory of Verona. She continued her studies in France with Jaqueline Borot and Pierre Jamet, who greatly influenced her musical development, and was awarded a scholarship by the French government at the Ecole Normale de Musique of Paris as a student of Fabrice Pierre (harp) and Michael Hentz (chamber music). A scholarship by the German government provided the opportunity for her master studies at the Musikhochschule in Wurzburg, where she studied with Giselle Herbert, receiving her Meisterklassdiplom in 1994.

Teaching Experience

As well as her work as Head of Harp at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, and her recent appointment at Chethams School of Music in Manchester UK, Gabriella gives masterclasses and harp courses as well as orchestral courses in Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Singapore, Tasmania and Australia. She has also been a jury member in competitions (BBC Young Musician of the Year [strings final]; F.Godefroid International Harp Competition in Belgium, Arpaplus in Spain and North London Competition, etc).

Furthermore, she is actively involved in community music projects, ranging from babies of a few months old to elderly people, hospitals and special needs schools.  Her wide experience of teaching all ages and all backgrounds reflects her commitment to music-making at the highest international level, not only in the solo scene but also chamber music and orchestral, and community work and cross-collaborations. Gabriella and choreographer Susan Sentler work together with dancers and harpists to promote new explorations between movement, sounds and shapes.