Alice Giles

Celebrated as one of the world’s leading harp soloists, Alice presented her debut recital in Sydney at the age of 13 and won First Prize in the 8th Israel International Harp Contest 1982. She has given solo recitals internationally including in New York Merkin Hall and 92nd Street Y, London Wigmore Hall, Frankfurt Alte Oper, and performed concertos with orchestras and appeared as guest artist at festivals in Europe, USA and Australia.

Regarded by Luciano Berio as the foremost interpreter of his Sequenza II, she has given many premiere performances for her instrument, including for electro-acoustic harp, and was founding Director of the Seven Harp Ensemble (SHE), touring and recording new works by Australian composers. Her wide discography includes solo, chamber music and concerto repertoire.

As recipient of an Australian Antarctic Division Arts Fellowship, she performed a solo concert at Mawson Station in 2011 and presented her multi-media program “Alice in Antarctica” which included commissioned Australian works, in San Francisco, Oslo, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

Artistic Director of the 2014 World Harp Congress in Sydney, she is elected Chair of the WHC from 2026. A dedicated teacher, she hosts AGOnlineHarpResource, a video teaching resource, with in-depth courses from beginner to advanced levels, and is Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She founded the Harp Centre Australia, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the harp in Australia.

Alice was awarded an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours for “significant service to the performing arts as a harpist, mentor and educator, and through contributions to Australia’s musical landscape.” She lives on a rural property near Yass NSW, with pianist husband Arnan Wiesel, where she seeks a balanced life and enjoys the peace, beauty and space nature provides.