Britain’s best-selling classical harpist, Claire Jones, gave a magical recital at Monmouth School for Girls.

Around 100 people, some of whom had travelled from Newport, Abergavenny and Chepstow for the evening, packed into the recital hall at the new Performing Arts Centre.

Monmouth School for Girls’ Chamber Choir joined Ms Jones for The Lake and Rain Dance, pieces written by her husband and composer/percussionist, Chris Marshall.

Ms Jones was the official Royal harpist for four years between 2007 and 2011 and she was beautifully accompanied in her Monmouth appearance by Mr Marshall.

As part of her set, Ms Jones played, among others, Themes from Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky, Arr. Agazarian), and This Love (Arr. Jones/Marshall), Ladies in Lavender (Hess), Danses des Sylphes (Godefroid) and Poem (Fibich).

Mr Derek Harris, Director of Music at Monmouth School for Girls, said: “Claire was thrilled with the acoustics and facilities of the newly-opened Performing Arts Centre.

“She is hoping to return to work not only with our harpists but also with our Chamber Choir who brilliantly performed two songs with her in the evening recital.”

On the afternoon of the concert, Ms Jones worked with 70 young children at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and explained the intricacies of the harp to them.

Mr Harris added: “It was absolutely wonderful to observe Claire in her workshops. Her rapport with the Year 5 and 6 pupils kept them spellbound as did her performance, with her percussion-playing husband, of Piazzola’s Libertango.”