Sisters Elfair and Rhiain performed as a harp duo for the first time during Summer 2012 at The National Eisteddfod of Wales Vale of Glamorgan where they won the instrumental duo competition which was open to all ages. This success inspired the sisters to become Dwyres and to continue performing together at numerous venues presenting an enjoyable programme of inspiring music.
Dwyres are available for recitals. Their repertoire consists of well-known works from the harp duo repertoire.
For further information and to book Dwyres, please contact Elfair
Welsh harpist Rhiain Awel Dyer is currently studying for a Masters degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with international harpist Caryl Thomas after graduating with honors at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where she studied with Eira Lynn Jones. Previously she received lessons at the William Mathias Music Centre in Caernarfon with Elinor Bennett where she won the award for Best Pupil. Born in Mynytho at the heart of the Llŷn Peninsula, Rhiain holds a DipABRSM and an LRSM diploma and has enjoyed many successes in Welsh Eisteddfodau and festivals including first prize in harp competitions at the National Eisteddfod and the National Cerdd Dant Festival. She was also a finalist in the Pencerdd Gwalia festival in 2013 that remembered the centenary of the death of Welsh harpist John Thomas. Rhiain also received the Welsh Fusiliers prize for the best performance of a piece by a Welsh composer at RWCMD.
Rhiain was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and was the orchestra’s principal harpist for two years. In 2013 she had the privilege of travelling to Germany with the orchestra and performing in prestigious venues such as the Konzerthaus in Berlin as part of the Young Euro Classics Festival and Brandenburg Cathedral. In October 2014, Rhiain was one of a few young musicians from the National Youth Orchestra chosen to play alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in a Halloween themed concert in St. David’s Hall, Cardiff.
Rhiain had the great opportunity of appearing on BBC Wales’ TV programme Connie Fisher’s Musical Map of Wales in 2011; performing on the show and talking about her studies at the William Mathias Music Centre. Another memorable experience was performing a duet on early Erard harps with former Royal Harpist Catrin Finch at the 2012 Caernarfon Harp Festival concert. Rhiain performed her own recital at the 2015 Caernarfon Harp Festival in April and also gave a performance at the festival’s evening concert. In November 2016 Rhiain performed Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro at the Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall and will be performing Paul Patterson’s Spiders Web at the same venue; and in Holywell Harps Ltd., London in March 2017.
Photo credit: Dewi Wyn