Ursula Burns

Ursula Burns is a Belfast Harpist and Contemporary Composer.
This artist created a unique style of harping which draws from elements of
Paraguayan and Celtic techniques with a focus on self-expression. As “The Dangerous
Harpist" She has been smashing the cultural stereotypical image of the harp by taking it
on a journey through Music, Theatre, Circus, Comedy and Performance.

Her life growing up in Belfast is deeply ingrained in her songwriting. Her troubled
relationship with her home town drove her to run away with the circus and embark
upon a life on the road writing songs and performing everywhere from Gypsy Wagons
and Flee Pits to Yurts and Big Tops. Ursula has taken her music around the world and
played at the Royal Albert Hall, Apollo, Palladium and Lyric Hammersmith.

Ursula's 6th studio album, The Secret Melodies of Trees, is her first instrumental harp album that documents her self-created technique. The Album was recorded at Red Box studios, produced by Donal O'Connor. Released in October 2024, this body of work has been hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary composition that redefines the limits of harp music.

Burns has made 100per per cent of her income by playing live harp. From Figureheads to flying, From comedy to contemporary there is very little she has not tried with her harp. This year she has two shows on the road in Ireland with Dance and Circus.
Burns is an authentic artist who constantly strives to push the harp to the modern day whilst in her dangerous harping persona she tips the hat to the long lost bardic tradition of old that went underground when Queen Elizabeth declared to Hang the Harpers and Burn their instruments and bardic harping was driven underground. It's an epic story that Burns addresses in her live comedy solo performances and stage shows.