Vicky Lester

London born Vicky Lester is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music where she studied as a scholar to attain a Masters degree in performance with distinction. Her studies at this level were generously supported by the Musicians Benevolent Fund and a ‘Star’ Award from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. Prior to this she gained a BMus Honours degree from Edinburgh University, where she was awarded the Tovey Memorial Prize for Outstanding Musician of the Year and a Bucher-Fraser Scholarship, as well as achieving the highest mark ever given to a harpist in her final recital there.

Vicky is currently living and working in London, enjoying a rich and varied career as a free-lance musician. As an orchestral harpist, she has played with some of the country’s finest professional orchestras, including the RPO, RPCO, RSNO, CBSO, Manchester Camerata, Scottish Opera and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She also plays regularly with the National Symphony Orchestra on the Katherine Jenkins tour, and has performed duets with the operatic sensation. In addition to this, Vicky has played for session recordings at Abbey Road, film scores at Air Lyndhurst Studios, has been broadcast on Radio 3 and has made several television appearances, including a live BBC Prom in 2005, the Brit Awards 2006, and the Princess Diana Memorial Concert 2007.

Vicky is also in demand as a soloist, giving numerous solo recitals nationwide as well as making appearances as a concerto soloist with orchestras across the country. Recent highlights include a performance of Debussy ‘s Danses with Crendon Chamber Orchestra, the UK Premiere of Mozart’s Piano Concerto K414, arranged for harp by Skaila Kanga, and a lunch-time solo recital at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

As well as a busy performing career, Vicky also has a great love of teaching. She received her LRAM teaching diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in 2005 and was soon appointed as a professor of harp at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she continues to work. She has also been involved in outreach projects, taking part in music summer camps in Croatia for disabled children affected by the Balkan Wars.