Julia Thornton is a professional harpist, who to date has released two albums: Harpistry (2003) and Eye of the Storm (2004).
Within a year, Boden asked Thornton's parents if they would buy her a concert harp – a huge financial investment.
Thornton extended her studies by attending the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music on Saturdays, where she began also to learn percussion.
She was also awarded the Mathias Prize for the best performance of his Santa Fe Suite at the International Harp Competition in Cardiff.
[3] Following an audition, she began working with Bryan Ferry, performing on the harp and percussion instruments on his "As Time Goes By" tour, which comprised a collection of 1930s standards such as the title track.
The tour involved visits to Australia and Japan, and playing in some of the world's major venues, such as Wembley Arena.
The seeds of her first album, "Harpistry", were sown during her involvement with a mediaeval instrumental group, Arcana Mundi, a concept dreamed up by Craig Leon, who would later become her producer.
Thornton signed a deal with EMI in 2002, and between trips abroad with Bryan Ferry, she sourced the material for her first album, with help from Leon.
Thornton released her second album, "Eye of the Storm", on her own label, Crossways Records, due to frustrations with EMI.