Harriet Adie read Music at Balliol College, Oxford, where she held the Richard Lewis Nettleship Instrumental Exhibition. During her time there, she was Principal Harp with both the Oxford University Orchestra and the Oxford University Chamber Orchestra. Before this, she was a student of Daphne Boden at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, where she was successful in many competitions, winning amongst others the Ruby White Prize. She went on to continue her studies with Imogen Barford at Trinity College of Music, where she was generously supported by awards from the Musicians Benevolent Fund, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund.

As a soloist, she has given many recitals at venues including St. John's, Smith Square, St. James's, Piccadilly, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. James's Palace for a celebration of the Queen Mother's 100th birthday. Recent appearances include a performance of Handel's Harp Concerto with the Ten Tors Orchestra and selection to play at the 8th World Harp Congress in Geneva. This year, she also toured with the Unicorn Theatre Project in association with the Philharmonia Orchestra for their production of the opera Clockwork, culminating in performances at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Covent Garden.

Harriet also enjoys composing and has written several solo and chamber works. One of her first compositions, a Christmas carol entitled 'Winter' for choir and harp, was performed by the girl choristers of Exeter Cathedral Choir at the Grandisson service on Christmas Eve 1999. She was also commissioned by the Two Moors Festival to compose a piece for harp and string quartet based on nursery rhymes. This piece has been successfully used in workshops by A level and GCSE music composition students.

Harriet is a keen chamber musician, playing in duos with both the violinist Magnus Johnston and cellist Jessica Burroughs. She is also a member of the Barkham Harp Quartet, who were selected for the prestigious Blackheath Halls Young Artists Series 2003/04 and have played at venues all over the country, including the Bromsgrove, Windsor and Buxton Festivals and St. George's, Bristol.