Nile Mansingh has travelled to at least 20 countries around the world – quite an accomplishment for a 15-year-old. But her accomplishments extend far beyond her travels.
Mansingh, a harpist, has played with other professional harpists in Egypt and Israel, and she has graced the stage of the auditorium at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, renamed almost two years ago after one of her relatives, renowned pianist and composer, the late Winifred Atwell.
Mansingh and her family had been invited to attend the naming ceremony on September 23, 2024, but they were unable to make the trip.
“Nile played at her cousin’s wedding at the auditorium before it was renamed The Winifred Atwell Auditorium. She was 13 then,” her mother, Nicole Atwell-Mansingh, said.
Mansingh was born in the UK to T&T parents who migrated 25 years ago. Her first instrument was the piano, and after mastering its keys, she decided to learn to play another instrument.
“But I didn’t want to try one of the regular strings or the brass, because there’s a lot of players, and you just wouldn’t really stand out if you were playing with them. So I chose the harp, because not many people play it anymore.
“And in orchestras, there’s usually around one or two of them (harps), and they just stand out by the way they look and how they sound as well,” Mansingh explained.
She has completed Grade 8, the highest Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music level, at both the piano and the harp, and she is currently working on her diploma in the piano.
She is also a member of the Chineke Orchestra, the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of a majority black and ethnically diverse musicians, and plays with The National Youth Harp Orchestra of Great Britain.
The diminutive teenager with the towering, 20kg harp has a busy musical schedule; aside from her performances with the orchestras, she is frequently booked to perform at weddings, christenings and other events.
“So she’s done a wedding in January, and she has one in August, so she has to start looking at the pieces for that. And then of course, she’s got performances with the orchestra coming up…So almost every month there’s some sort of activity,” Atwell-Mansingh said.
The harp is generally considered a niche instrument when compared to instruments like the guitar or piano. But for Mansingh, learning to play it was not difficult.
“I think it was because I really liked it and I was devoted to it, it just kind of felt natural. But it depends on how much you like it, and how much you play it and practice.”
Her daily practice sessions can go anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes – ten minutes of scales, and 20 minutes on her pieces.
“Because I finished Grade 8, the pieces are not really hard, but the intricate fingering takes a while to get perfect. Then I have to focus on dynamics and pedal changes, so it’s quite a lot to put together.”
Mansingh attends the Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School in Essex, England and participates in a number of sporting activities.
“I like javelin, shot put, discus, and hammer. And I really like javelin, so I would compete. I think my personal best is around 24, 25 metres, which is pretty good…I also do swimming, and I have finished all the stages for swimming as well.”
She hasn’t yet decided what she wants to do career-wise, but she knows music will not be her main profession.
“I think I would do music as a side job, so I’m going to have to figure out what I want to do. Personally, I would like to try a lot of things. So I think I’ll go around doing various jobs, gain experience, and make connections with people.”
Her parents make it their duty to expose her to her connections in T&T, ensuring that she visits and immerses herself in the culture. Mansingh has been to T&T five times.
“I stayed with some family friends, and we went to the beach with the baby turtles going back into the ocean. It was really fun, and the food is so good…I really like doubles.”
And although she may not be able to say “buss up shut” with a Trini accent, she knows how to eat it with her hands.
“My husband and I, we used to be in the military in the UK, so we were used to travelling a lot,” Atwell-Mansingh said.
“I was in the navy, he was in the army, so naturally when Nile came along, we travelled with her. So as far as culture goes, she’s culturally wise, and that’s worldwide.
“So if she has to be in an Arabic setting, she’s comfortable; in an African setting, she’s comfortable; in a Caribbean setting, she’s comfortable. And I think it’s important, particularly in this ever-changing world, for people to be able to be more fluid when you’re working and living with different nationalities.”
