"and what a fabulous concert, so much enjoyed by everyone, some said it was our best concert ever"
Geoff Scott, Binham Priory Concerts
Eleanor divides her time between writing music, curating live music experiences, recording for herself and other artists, collaborating with musicians in co-writing and chamber music, and thinking about how to break the mould and break cycles in western classical music, with reference to the concert harp's post-colonial mindset. Her classical western training informs but does not inhibit what she plays, and her approach to her musical life is as playful as it is meaningful. Recent projects include playing harp on Dave's third studio album, The Boy Who Played The Harp, (tracks 4 and 7) and creating a sheet music book, Lullabies for the Land, to raise money for the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund and the Middle East Children's Alliance. With cover design and layout by Scottish-Palestinian artist Dima Nowarah, it is Eleanor's most meaningful musical contribution to date (you can buy a hard copy or PDF version of the book via this site). Pic below is of Eleanor working on a recordingin her home studio.
Photo by Lucy Glen
Having enjoyed an international recital career for over twenty years, Eleanor now also uses her professional standing to question the rigidity of classical concerts and the nature of the harp itself. Whilst teaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) for five years, Eleanor was also 'Research Active' and used this opportunity to work closely with Dr Balandino Di Donato and the Integra Lab, later continuing her research with Dr James Dooley. The mission was to enable plucked sounds to sustain and grow, defying the natural decay of the harp. The team also experimented with moving sound around a space, a joyful process which resulted in Eleanor composing 'The Wood and the Water', based on a poem she wrote in creative British Sign Language, and performing it in Shanghai at the 2017 International Computer Music Conference. A year later, in 2018, Eleanor curated and hosted the world's first Electro Harp Day, at the RBC.
From Eleanor's 'Philo Sophia' workshops, which highlight and explore a diverse range of feminine wisdom, to 'Disrupted Icons', her collaboration with visual artist Lucy Cade, the past five years have seen Eleanor challenging societal expectations of women within the sphere of western classical music. 'Disrupted Icons' was an exhibition that subverted expectations of motherhood using religious iconography, film and a sonic installation by Eleanor. Eleanor’s artistic development has been supported by awards from the Tillett Trust, the Ambache Charitable Trust, PRS Foundation for New Music, Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust, Help Musicians, the Park Lane Group, Sound and Music and a Wingate Scholarship.
Eleanor cherishes the opportunity to work with a huge variety of artists across many genres. Below is a video of her harp arrangement of Ruti's gorgeous original track, When It Rains. Ruti had such clear ideas for this arrangement so Eleanor simply had to realise their vision. Here they are performing it for Wordplay Sessions:
A key influence in Eleanor’s life is the American jazz harpist, composer and conductor Deborah Henson-Conant. Since their first collaboration in 2010, generously supported by Camac Harps, Eleanor and Deborah have worked together in New Orleans (where Eleanor performed Deborah’s concerto Soñando en Español with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra), Sydney and Hong Kong. Last April they were reunited at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival 2025 and managed to squeeze in an impromptu performance together! Below is a video of the two artists having an absolute ball together at the 12th World Harp Congress in Sydney, July 2014.
Eleanor can be booked, directly, to perform concerts or events as a solo artist, or with one of her ensembles. She is also available for session recordings, both in studio locations and at her home in Stamford. Commissions for compositions can be discussed over email with Eleanor and she also makes occasional appearances speaking on podcasts and at events. Simply email Eleanor with your enquiry .
© Eleanor Turner 2026