Biography

Rachel Jerome (nee Dent) began studying the harp with Dorothy Gilbertson of Harrogate before accepting a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1997, studying with Eira Lynn Jones. She graduated with honours in June 2001. In 1999 she received the Dearden Award for Achievement and the United Kingdom Harp Association Award.

She is dedicated to teaching the pedal harp and clarsach, and has over 30 students of all ages and abilities, many achieving outstanding results in both music festivals and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations.

Rachel is an examiner for ABRSM and harp tutor for Yorkshire Young Musicians, Leeds and Hull Universities, Ampleforth College, Wakefield Girls School and St Peter’s School in York. She has also had students accept places at specialist music schools and colleges.

As a soloist, Rachel has performed in many venues, including St Ann's Church and Flixton House, Manchester, St Botolph’s Church, London, Hull University, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Leeds Cathedrals and York Minster. Rachel has also provided music for various TV broadcasts and her freelance orchestral career has included working with the Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Sinfonia ViVa as well as Hull Philharmonic, Leeds College of Music Orchestra, and Beverley Chamber Orchestra.

Rachel also enjoys performing with choirs, most notably with Martin Neary and the Millennium Youth Choir of which she was a member.

With MYC, Rachel sang at the opening night of the Millennium Dome on 31st December 1999 – 1st January 2000. She has also toured the world with National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

Rachel has also organized two very successful John Rutter Singing days in Hull, and at a recent awards ceremony for Hull University, he suggested Rachel was ‘an ambassador for music in the region’.