THE first royal harpist for more than a century, Catrin Finch, provided a coup for a North Yorkshire concert society celebrating its half century of musical events.

The Prince of Wales's personal harpist gave a solo performance for Ripon Cathedral concert society before dashing off for engagements in California.

Miss Finch, aged 19, is the first to hold the post of royal harpist since the 1870s. She secured a two-year contract in July after an impressive performance at Prince Charles' 50th birthday party the previous November.

The slightly-built musician performer, who has been playing the harp since she was six, left a marked impression on the audience which packed into the cathedral choir.

Among them was Mr Harry Winter, who normally sings in the choir but on this occasion was an inspired onlooker.

He said it had been exciting to witness a performance of such class and quality. "There was no sign of nerves and she played with complete confidence and obviously enjoyed what she was doing," he said.

Miss Finch's royal patronage was mentioned briefly in the programme notes, but she made no reference to it during the concert, which was jointly sponsored by chartered accountants Leslie Bray and Co and Dunlopillo.

Last March, she won the New York-based young concert artists' auditions and is due to make debut recitals in Washington, Boston and New York. She recently won first prize at the Lily Laskine international harp competition in Paris, the prize including a new harp, similar to her old one.

Though born in Wales, of an English father and German mother, she was not inspired to play the harp because of its Welsh tradition, but after hearing Spanish harpist, Marisa Robles