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Re-emerging after its hugely successful world premiere at the 2022 Â鶹Éç Proms with Eva Ollikainen, Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s ARCHORA portrays abstractions – musical spectra and clashing extremes drawn out through her focus on primordial energy and parallel realms. Its broad, gestural nature contradicts and complements the sweeping symphonic intricacies of Debussy’s La mer. Prefacing such powerfully dramatic pieces, a traditional bout of Haydn’s Sturm und Drang-driven drama in the overture to ‘L’isola disabitata’ (The Deserted Island) and a pre-emptive respite as Richard Goode treats us to one of Mozart’s most imaginative concertos, his Eighteenth.

Pre-concert entertainment
6.30pm In Stalls Café Bar

Ahead of the concert, RNCM student Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn will be performing in the Stalls Café Bar.

Born and raised in Singapore, Kimberly is a passionate and dedicated harpist with a heart for sharing her love for the harp with others. Kimberly showed great interest in the harp when she joined the harp ensemble in Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) as a co-curricular activity and began private lessons with Rave Harps Academy at age 14. She would go on to busy herself with harp activities as the president of the ensemble in upper secondary, performing at the Esplanade Concert Hall and Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Under Rave Harps, Kimberly was encouraged to participate in the Rave Harps International Prestige Award 2020 (Solo) and 2021 (Chamber) alongside her preparations for GCE A-levels in Singapore; achieving a Distinction and Distinction with Honours with her partner respectively. Her enthusiasm and commitment were recognised when she was invited to perform with Rave Harps in the 14th World Harp Congress 2022 in Cardiff, Wales.

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree with the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Dr Anne-Marie O’Farrell, Kimberly has thus been engaged in a myriad of musical activities. Some of which involved collaborating with Spirit Studios, participating in RNCM Engage, RNCM Children’s Opera Project (The Snow Queen), and the North London Festival of Music, Speech & Drama (2023).

Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn (harp)

Pre-concert programme
Debussy: Première Arabesque transcribed by Renié
Mozart arr. Le Dentu: Variations on a Theme of Mozart
Hasselmans: Romance Op. 6
Deborah Henson-Contant: Nataliana
Salzedo: ‘Mirage’ from Five Poetical Studies
Bernard Andrès: Kola
Sue Rothstein: ‘Reminiscence’ from Three Moods
David Watkins: Petite Suite (ii. Nocturne, iii. Fire Dance)

Kimberly Wong Sheat Yarn appears by kind permission of the RNCM.