“An augmented harpist”
Bio + Photos
Helena Ricci is forging her own path as a creative, forward-thinking, independent classical musician. The Swiss-born, London-based harpist fuses the harp with poetic visuals to create immersive, dream-like experiences. As a composer, she is composing the OST of the video game Mercantisle.
A free spirit, Helena Ricci deliberately chose to forge a path outside the traditional competition circuit to pursue her own vision. Her MUSILUX creative lab invites audiences to (re)discover classical music in a new light, in and outside the concert hall.
“Fast becoming a leading harpist of her generation”
Ricci is a current Immersive Arts awardee. Last season her solo show Glow in the Dark it up Manchester’s Stoller Hall and Harrogate International Festivals. Her current show ANIMA, created at the Verbier Festival Academy and featured on Swiss national television, accompanies her debut solo album to be released in 2026.
“Helena has already made huge strides into her own creative world. Her musical language is innovative and multifaceted.”
A recipient of multiple awards, Ricci has performed for HM The King, at the Royal Opera House, Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, LSO St Luke’s, St George’s Bristol, for the London Symphony Orchestra Discovery and in the West End.
A Guildhall School of Music & Drama alum, she is a recent City Music Foundation, Stoller Hall, Hattori Foundation and Britten-Pears programme. Through her innovative approach, mesmerising playing and zesty personality, Helena Ricci brings classical music into the present and tomorrow.
Awards
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Making Music Recommended Artist (2024-27)
Verbier Festival Academy: Creative Project Development Residency (2024)
The Stoller Hall Emerging Artist (2023-24)
City Music Foundation Artist (2022 onwards)
The Hattori Foundation Senior Awards (2022-23)
The UK Harp Association Creative Fund (2022)
DEBUT Horizon Artist (2022-23)
The Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust (2022)
Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs Certificate (2020)
The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna: Tuning in! (2019-20)
Master of Music with Distinction, Guildhall School of Music & Drama (2019)
HMUK Postgraduate Award (2018 + 2019)
Guildhall Harp Prize – Special Prize (2019)
Bachelor of Music with Honours 1st Class, Guildhall School of Music & Drama (2018)
Barbara Stringer Scholar (2018)
Henry Wood Trust (2018)
Chizel Educational Trust (2017)
Kathleen Trust (2016)
Irène Dénéréaz Fondation Awards (2014 + 2015)
Paderewski Award (2014)
SUISA Foundation Award (2013)
1 st prize at the Swiss Youth Competition (2013)
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Immersive Arts ‘Explore’ Grant (2026)
Arts Council England: Develop Your Creative Practice (2024)
New Diorama Theatre Broadgate: Research & Development Artistic residency (2022)
Deutsche Grammophon Roger & Brian Eno’s “Mixing Colours” – winning video for “Cerulean blue” (2020)
Transport for London Car-free photography competition (2020)
Polaroids by Nikita Thévoz