Imogen Barford

Imogen Barford is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Professor of Harp at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she serves as Head of the Department of Strings, Harp & Guitar. Previously, she held the same position at Trinity College of Music (1991–2005). She studied Music at Cambridge University and harp under Renata Scheffel-Stein at the Royal Academy of Music, where she earned a prestigious recital diploma. Her career spans solo performances, orchestral collaborations (including Philharmonia, LSO, and Glyndebourne), chamber music with groups like JEUX and Endymion Ensemble, and contemporary music with Lontano and the London Sinfonietta. She has performed globally, commissioning works from composers like Simon Holt and Hannah Kendall.

Barford is a sought-after educator, having given masterclasses in Europe and the UK, and holds qualifications in the Alexander Technique. She has adjudicated major competitions (BBC Young Musician, Royal OverSeas League) and festivals, and has served on juries for international harp competitions. Her research interests include diverse musical genres—from early to contemporary music—alongside pedagogical innovation.

• Awards: Royal Academy of Music Honorary Associate (1994), HEA Senior Fellowship
• Grants/Commissions: Ongoing series of harp works commissioned from British composers since 2013

Her work bridges classical, jazz, and experimental music, reflected in collaborations like her London Jazz Festival appearance and premiere of flute-viola-harp trios.