Davina Mortlock

Davina Mortlock was born in 1979 in Porrentruy, a small town in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. She completed her compulsory education in Switzerland and successfully graduated from High School in 1997, after which she spent eight months in Charlotte, North Carolina (US) studying Christian ministry and theology. From 1998 to 1999, she worked as a volunteer at the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, which is where she met her husband whom she married in 2000. They moved to South Africa in 2003, where she started playing the harp at weddings, functions and other special events.

Davina's love and interest for music started early, fuelled by her family's musical flare. She sang and performed at church and school events since the age of three. At the age of four, she was sent to a weekly musical theory class, and she successfully passed the final exam required for further studies at the conservatory at the age of 14. When she was six, her parents asked her which instrument she would like to play, and she was adamant about playing the harp like King David, whose story she loved. Her parents relented and Davina attended private harp lessons for the next 11 years in Switzerland. At first, she played a rented Celtic harp until she was ready to progress on to the Concert harp. She has now been the proud owner of a beautiful David concert harp for 13 years.

During her time in Israel, Davina started to write songs, and she also received voice lessons and developed a love for Jazz music. Since then she continues to develop her own style, which includes singing whilst playing the harp, and creating fresh compositions and improvisations.