About Us
The Origins
Our roots
30 years ago, Arianna, a gifted harpist from Italy, and her husband co-founded Arpitalia, a company dedicated to the sale and distribution of harps. At the time, the Italian market had limited options, with Salvi Harps being the only notable competitor.
Despite facing numerous challenges in the early stages, Arianna and her husband persevered and successfully established Arpitalia as the second largest harp retailer in Italy.
Introducing the Celtic Heritage
A matter of respect and nobility acknowledgement
Thirty years ago in Italy, the Celtic harp was primarily seen as a training instrument for students to learn the basics of harp playing before transitioning to the concert harp. Conservatories and music teachers were generally opposed to the idea of students playing the Celtic harp for its own sake. Arianna and her husband, through their company Arpitalia, played a crucial role in changing this perception.
They introduced the rich repertoire of traditional Celtic music from Brittany, Ireland, and Scotland to Italy. By organising festivals and events dedicated to Celtic music, they showcased the Celtic harp as a beautiful instrument, with a millennia-old history and a wide range of music genres.
Their commitment and passion for the Celtic harp paid off: Arpitalia grew into a highly successful company, offering a diverse selection of harps, including both Celtic and classical models from prestigious harp makers such as Camac.
The Next Chapter
A passion without boundaries
Arianna and her husband expanded their business by founding Harp Shop Europe, establishing branches in Spain and Switzerland.
Years later, Arianna met Federico, a musician, sound engineer, and owner of a production studio in London. Arianna moved to London to be with him, and together, they decided to start a company in London to expand the harp-selling business Arianna had founded.
This led to the creation of Harp Shop London, a project born out of Arianna’s and Federico’s shared passion for harps… and so much more.
What We Aim to Do
Not just a shop
Our story is much richer than this. When we write, we inevitably exclude some aspects from the narrative. While establishing a shop in London is part of our journey, our interests extend much further. The goal of Harp Shop is to serve as a point of reference for a thriving community—a meeting place for enthusiasts, professional musicians, students, and lovers of this magnificent instrument. Here, different cultures come together without boundaries, united by a shared passion for both Celtic and classical music. Is this ambition too lofty? Only time will tell, but rest assured, we will strive for it. We like to think about ourselves not as Harp sellers but as purveyors. We carefully curate our offerings and are always ready to provide guidance when sought, always prioritizing the needs of our customers.
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