Kirsty Whatley, harp Kirsty began to play at the age of nine when, instead of the asked-for yo-yo, her mother presented her with a small harp for Christmas. Kirsty swallowed her disappointment, put her yo-yo ambitions on hold, and devoted herself to the instrument. She went on to study music to Master's level at the University of Manchester, where she trained in modern pedal harp with Eira Lynn Jones. However, frustrated with the somewhat "fluffy" romantic image of the harp, Kirsty was drawn to alternatives and in 2005 engaged in further postgraduate study at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Switzerland. There, she studied baroque, Renaissance and medieval harps and continuo, and has since gone on to work internationally with some of Europe's leading musical lights. (continued) Gawain Glenton