Harpist in Singapore

 

 Biography

 Eilidh McRae was born in Inverness, Scotland, and began lessons on the clarsach at the age of seven.  Five years later she was awarded a Traditional Music Scholarship to Lomond School. Simultaneously she gained a place at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama as a Junior Department student. 

In June 1999 Eilidh graduated from Trinity College of Music, London, where she studied with Sioned Williams, Principal Harpist, BBC Symphony Orchestra.  Whilst there she performed Debussy's "Danses Sacrée et Profane". In 2001 she completed a two-year Postgraduate Performance course studying with Skaila Kanga at the very prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London, supported by the Winifred Disney and Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation Awards.  In July 2000 she achieved Highly Commended in the Julia Leney Prize for Harp. 

 From 1993-96 Eilidh was Principal Harpist with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and between 1997-99, with the National Musicians Symphony Orchestra. Her professional work includes performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Foundation Philharmonic Orchestra and Bangkok Opera, and she has also worked with the Britten-Pears Orchestra and British Youth Opera. 

 Eilidh has worked with numerous famous artists including performances with Sir Paul McCartney, TV appearances with Andrea Bocelli and also a recording for the award-winning band Travis. In 2001 she toured to Italy with a jazz funk group called "The Orchestra" and had a solo appearance at the European Harp Symposium held in Amsterdam. Her Samsara duo (Flute and Harp) toured throughout the UK for the Live Music Now Scheme, which creates the opportunity to give many recitals to members of the community who would not easily have access to concerts. The Samsara duo was also invited to perform at the English Music Festival, Leamington and Warwickshire Music Festival and for Arran Music Society.

 Eilidh was the resident harpist at the Langham and Park Lane Hilton Hotels in London for 3 years. She has also worked for numerous cruise lines, performed for many celebrities, politicians and members of the Thai and British Royal Families.  

 In 2003 Eilidh moved to Bangkok and was the resident teacher and performer at the Tamnak Prathom Harp Centre. She then held residencies at many 5 star hotels including the Westin Grand Hotel, Plaza Athénée, a Royal Meridien Hotel and the InterContinental Bangkok Hotel.  Eilidh travels throughout Asia and has performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly plays Principal harp for Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra. Eilidh also taught the harp at three International Schools and was Principal Harpist of Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008-09.

 Since moving to Singapore in late 2009 Eilidh has firmly established herself as a performer and harp teacher. Recently she has played at the National Museum of Singapore, Raffles Hotel, Fullerton Hotel and Marina Bay Sands. After a successful audition she is on Singapore Symphony Orchestra's Freelance list. Eilidh performs regularly with Singapore Lyric Opera, including for their 2011 production of Bizet's Carmen and concerts in the Botanic Gardens. She has given multiple performances with the Philharmonic Winds at Esplanade and also recently performed with the British Opera Star, Russell Watson at his sold out concert. At the 2011 Singapore Arts Festival Eilidh performed with the Singapore Festival Orchestra when the orchestra accompanied the Asian premiere of the film "A Throw of Dice".  In January this year Eilidh performed for Paris Opera Ballet's production of "Giselle" with Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra.