Kirsty Whatley, harp Kirsty Whatley is a specialist early harp player. She began to play at the age of nine when, instead of the asked-for yo-yo, her mother presented her with a folk harp for Christmas. Kirsty swallowed her disappointment, put her yo-yo ambitions on hold, and devoted herself to the instrument, progressing naturally to the modern pedal harp. She later studied music at Manchester University where she scooped up distinguished firsts at both Bachelors and Masters levels whilst studying harp with Eira Lynn Jones. (continued) Gawain Glenton