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NATO at RWCMD

17 September 2014

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Harp
Strings

New students arriving to begin their studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama this week may not be aware of the more unusual gathering that took place at the College earlier in the month.

During the NATO Wales summit — which saw the largest gathering of world leaders ever to take place in Britain — the College was the venue for the meeting of the foreign ministers from the Alliance’s 28 member countries.

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NATO’s Foreign Ministers gather on the stage in the Dora Stoutzker Hall

Beth Fuller-Teed was one of the musicians from the College who played at the event. ‘We were escorted by police wherever we went,’ she said,’ but it was a great experience and something amazing and unique to put on my CV.’

Another string quartet from the College was invited to play at a reception of world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales at the Celtic Manor in Newport.  RWCMD graduate and Royal Harpist Hannah Stone also played at the reception.

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Lydia Marshall, Elizabeth French, Beatrice Newman and Ben Newton at the Celtic Manor

‘Extraordinary beauty, wonderful people and great hospitality’
President Barack Obama