A talented young harpist who has just completed a tour of Holland with the International Harp Ensemble has set her sights on a career as professional musician.

Emily Louisa Rowell, 17, might be a busy A-level student at Highcliffe School, but it hasn’t stopped her musical flair from flourishing – she even played privately for Prince Charles on a recent visit to Dorset, pictured right.

After taking up the harp five years ago she is currently studying grade 8, and has notched up an impressive range of performance experience, including performing at the Royal Albert Hall with the Dorset Youth Orchestra, and she has also been fortunate enough to play the Royal Harp at Clarence House.

Emily, who has just been on tour in Holland with The International Harp Ensemble, already finds her skills much in demand.

“I am currently studying music at A-Level and playing for weddings and events,” she said. “In the future I really hope to go on to study the harp at a conservatoire.”

Emily, from Matchams, who was the former harpist to The Dorset Youth Orchestra, told the Echo she was first attracted to the instrument because it is so unusual.

“We were sat one evening talking about unique instruments that not many people played. The harp was one of the first suggestions and I immediately jumped at the idea - next minute my mum had booked a lesson and that was it,” she said.

“I love the fact that the harp simply is so unique, wherever I go musically it’s rare that anyone will play the same instrument as me. And also that the instrument itself is beautiful, let alone the music. It’s a piece of art.”

With a broad-ranging repertoire from ornamental baroque music, to jazz classics like Moon River, Emily is already sought after, particularly for weddings.

Contact Emily Rowell on 07759 146909 or steve.louisa@btinternet.com.