Jennie Joy Porton
Saxophone Tutor and Clarinet/Saxophone Doubling Tutor
Job Role: Harp Teacher
Department: Harp
Honours: MMus, FRWCMD
A respected soloist, chamber musician and teacher, Caryl Thomas made her American debut in 1981 at Carnegie Hall, her London debut at the Wigmore Hall a year later, and since then has performed to critical acclaim throughout Europe, USA and the Far East. She graduated from the Welsh College of Music and Drama and gained a Master’s degree from New York University.
Caryl has performed as soloist with the London Philharmonic, BBC NOW, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square, and the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg, and during a period as harpist with the London Philharmonic, played under the baton of such eminent conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Klaus Tennstedt, Leonard Slatkin, Sir Bernard Haitink and Sir George Solti. Her discography includes the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto with the London Philharmonic, a solo recital entitled Clair de Lune, and a collection of French chamber works with the Prometheus Ensemble.
In 2007, Caryl was Artistic Director of the 7th European Harp Symposium, and in June 2016, sat on the jury of the USA International Harp Competition. Caryl is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress, and Chaired the Host Committee of the 14th WHC in Cardiff in July 2022.