Mared Pugh-Evans

In 2024 Mared became the seventh official harpist to His Majesty King Charles III, since he re-created the role in 2000 as Prince of Wales to foster Welsh talent on the harp, the national instrument of Wales.

Continuing a long tradition of royal harpists with links to the College: she succeeded graduates Alis Huws, and Hannah Stone who held the role from 2011. Fellow, graduate and artistic director of World Harp Congress 2020, Catrin Finch was the first harpist to hold the re-established tradition.

Mared graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama with First Class Honours in 2020, winning the College’s prestigious Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize for most outstanding instrumentalist. She then went on to receive her Master of Arts: Performance (First Class) from the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Her regular appearances on live television and radio, include broadcasts from the National Eisteddfod of Wales main stage and the S4C studio while at RWCMD, and an interview and live performance on Radio 4’s ‘Saturday Live’.

Now a freelance musician based in London, one of the most important parts of her work is in the community and participation field, facilitating workshops and projects in education, from nursery classes to high schools, in hospitals, care homes and psychiatric care facilities.

Mared is a musician for Wigmore Hall’s community and participation programme, Music for Life, and a Live Music Now Musician, freelancing with numerous organizations on their community projects, including Academy of St Martin in the Fields, City of London Sinfonia and the Royal Academy of Music.

In April 2025, in recognition of this work, Mared was invited to a Community Music Makers Reception at Windsor Castle, celebrating ‘the vital role music plays in strengthening communities and the important work of those developing future musical leaders by providing the next generation with knowledge and experience.’

As well as performing at performing at Y Senedd, Buckingham Palace and St James’ Palace, recent highlights in this role have included a Radio 3 special Easter broadcast from the iconic Pembrokeshire birthplace of St David, and performing at Wells Cathedral with the choristers, along with numerous community projects.

Throughout 2025 Mared has a host of recitals across Wales and the UK coming up, including the Llandaff Cathedral Festival and Fishguard Festival, as well as all her ongoing community work.