Mimi Harmer

As a performer, Mimi is at the beating heart of the music industry in the United Kingdom. Her work as a cellist has taken her across the country and the world, performing with a diverse roster of artists across disciplines, collaborating with producers, composers, and sound designers to bring innovative sonic ideas to life.

But her musical ambition doesn’t stop at performance. Mimi has marked herself out as a dynamic and expressive composer with her genre-blending works premiered by members of the London Symphony Orchestra and English National Opera. It was with these abilities that Mimi worked with Kathak dancer Mansi Dabral on Kanyaa - The Daughter, under the mentorship of Balbir Singh.

Above all Mimi is an innovator using performance and composition to challenge convention. To pull the music industry into the future and bring people together. Mimi is currently combining her drive to widen access and participation in the arts with her knowledge of interactive technologies and skill as a digital producer to prepare an ambitious debut virtual reality experience. She has also presented her ideas on innovation to Adobe, ARTE, and the IMZ International Music and Media Centre. 

In June 2022, Mimi was made a Fellow of the European Music Council.

Within the education sector, Mimi has extensive experience shaping and influencing public policy with the goal of improving education for all. Her work as a Panelist for the Office for Students has brought her together with senior leaders across higher education at a governmental, sectoral, and university level to bring about cultural and structural change for students and performing arts education across the UK.

Mimi has also helped shape higher music education internationally. She currently sits on the European Association of Conservatoires' Council, and was a member of both the Digitisation and the Student working groups as part of the Creative Europe-funded project 'Strengthening Music in Society'. In November 2021, Mimi launched the European Performing Arts Students' Association: the leading voice for performing arts students in Europe and was elected Vice President in 2023.

Combining her broad experience in education with her communication and digital skills, Mimi worked at the forefront of education technology in one of the largest distance learning departments in the country. Currently she is a tutor at Leeds Junior Conservatoire and is frequently invited to critically review institutions and study programmes across Europe.

Mimi channels her extensive expertise in music education on her board positions - the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), the F-List for Music, and the Cultural Learning Alliance Advisory Panel.

In July 2022, Mimi was made a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AdvanceHE) for her work in education technology, supporting diverse learner groups, student representation, and policymaking.