Ursula Burns

About Ursula Burns

Ursula Burns – Harpist, Composer, Performance Artist
Award-winning harpist Ursula Burns is a genre-defying force in contemporary music and performance art. Described as "redefining the limits of the harp," Ursula has taken the instrument far beyond its traditional bounds—into the worlds of theatre, dance, circus, comedy, and magic.

As a recording artist, Ursula has released seven solo albums, including her most recent and critically acclaimed work, The Secret Melodies of Trees, produced by Donal O’Connor. Hailed as a masterpiece, the album showcases her boundary-pushing approach to composition and self created technique, which draws on elements of Paraguayan and Celtic styles with a focus on self expression .
Her career has spanned the globe, earning accolades such as the International Songwriting Competition (2016), the Everywoman TV Awards, a Global Recognition Award for Bardic Harping, and a Malcolm Hardee Award nomination for originality at the Edinburgh Festival. Her work is deeply rooted in the oral tradition and inspired by her lineage of O’Neill musicians from Tyrone and Donegal.

Ursula's unusual journey give rise to her latest show, How Many Bardic Harpers Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb?, which is a deep dive into what got lost in Irelands harping culture. Performed for the Ideas and politics festival in Belfast
An artist of ceaseless innovation, Ursula continues to evolve. In 2025, she collaborates with Circus 250 on Achill Island to score a production about Grace O’Malley, Ireland’s legendary pirate queen. She is also developing Moonlight Dream, a cosmic dance odyssey in collaboration with Greek choreographer Georgia Teague, where Ursula will perform harp and piano simultaneously.

A fearless performance artist, Ursula has flown her harp through the air, walked on stilts, and performed as a living figurehead on the Lagan currachs. With her rare blend of virtuosity, storytelling, and theatricality, comedy and social commentry, she continues to captivate audiences and challenge expectations—taking the harp, and those who listen to it, on unforgettable journeys.