Anne-Marie O'Farrell

Dr. Anne-Marie O'Farrell is a Professor of Harp at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), renowned for expanding the harp's repertoire and innovating lever harp techniques. She performs globally as a soloist, accompanist, and ensemble member, and is frequently invited to international conferences like the World Harp Congress. Her academic roles include teaching at institutions such as TU Dublin Conservatoire and Maynooth University. O'Farrell holds a PhD in Composition from Queen’s University Belfast and multiple performance diplomas. Her research focuses on new music, transcriptions, and critical editions for harp, with a specialization in Irish traditional music and harp ensemble direction. Recent accolades include commissions from RTÉ Lyric FM and the BBC Baroque Remixed Composition Competition win. She advocates for pedagogical methods like the Kodàly approach and has mentored international students. Her work bridges classical and contemporary harp performance, emphasizing chromatic range and technical innovation.

• Education: PhD in Composition (Queen’s University Belfast), MA Performance/Musicology (Maynooth University), MA Composition (Maynooth University), BA BMus (University College Dublin)
• Research Interests: Lever harp innovation, harp ensemble direction, vocal/instrumental accompaniment, advanced lever harp techniques
• Awards: BBC Baroque Remixed Composition Competition, RTÉ commissions, critical editions recognition