One of the world’s top harpists has come to the rescue of an international festival after Catrin Finch was forced to pull out because she is battling breast cancer.

According to Isabelle Moretti, she will dedicate her performance at the fourth Wales International Harp Festival in Caernarfon to the former royal harpist who recently announced she was undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with grade three breast cancer.

Isabelle teaches harp at the Paris Conservatoire for Music and Dance and is a Visiting Professor of Harp at London's Royal Academy of Music.

She paid tribute to Ceredigion-born Catrin, who became the first person since 1873 to hold the post of Royal Harpist.

She said: “I will be playing my concert at Galeri in Caernarfon on April 5.

“It’s a pity Catrin is unable to perform but I will do my best to give a performance she would enjoy and approve of.

Other highlights of the festival include a celebration of the life and work of the harpist, Dr Osian Ellis, marking his 90th birthday. As well as being the Professor of Harp at the Royal Academy of Music, Dr Ellis was for many years the Principal Harpist with the London Symphony Orchestra.

More than 100 harpists will be coming to the festival, which has Galeri as its main venue, from Easter Sunday, April 1, to Saturday, April 7.

Another event during the festival will be the Welsh premiere of a new piece of music to remember the drowning of the village of Capel Celyn in the Tryweryn valley in 1965 to create a reservoir. The piece was commissioned by harpist Sioned Williams, whose grandfather Huw T Edwards led the campaign against the submerging of Capel Celyn. She play the piece, written by composer Michael Stimpson, at St Mary’s Church, Caernarfon on Easter Monday, April 2.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to playing at Caernarfon although I wish it had been under different circumstances. I want to make Catrin proud.”

Festival director Elinor Bennett said: “Isabelle is a wonderful harpist.We are so very fortunate that she is able to perform at Caernarfon.

For details about the Wales International Harp Festival visit www.walesharpfestival.co.uk