Maia Darmé is one of the most exciting and versatile harpists of her generation. Hailed as an ambassador for her instrument, she has earned an international reputation for her commanding on-stage presence and captivating performances. She has performed as a soloist or chamber musician in over 30 countries on all continents.

Born in France, Maia started playing the lever harp at the age of six when her family moved to Brittany, the stronghold of Celtic heritage in the country. She went on to learn under the guidance of many of the world’s most acclaimed classical harpists (Alice Giles, Park Stickney, Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Xavier de Maistre, Isabelle Moretti, Jana Bouskova, Audrey Perrin…) and received the first prize of the French Union of Musician Artists’ competition by unanimous decision and with the highest distinction.

Having graduated from the Bordeaux and Paris conservatories, she moved to Australia to complete her Harp Performance and Composition Bachelor at the Australian National University. There she toured with the much-loved Seven Harp Ensemble (SHE). She then pursued her graduate studies at Columbia University, New York, where she focused on Composition as well as diving into Electronic Music at the Computer Music Center. A recipient of the Gatsby foundation’s Arts Initiative program, she worked extensively on writing for the harp with emerging composers, commissioning new pieces for her instrument. She later rounded up her education with a Masters degree in Jazz Harp at the Conservatory of Milano, Italy.

As a classical soloist, she collaborated with orchestras such as the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra, Ukrainian National Radio Orchestra, Tunisian Symphony Orchestra, Dominican Republic National Orchestra, Caldas Symphony Orchestra, Aquitaine Symphony Orchestra, Kamerata Kuala Lumpur, Camerata Caribensis, Fractal Ensemble… and played under the baton of distinguished conductors, including Jean-Claude Casadesus, Nicolas Brochot, Pierre-Michel Durand and Pablo Mielgo.

Passionate about expanding the repertoire available for her instrument, she has premiered over 40 new pieces for harp dedicated to her, including Venezuelian composer Carlos Andrés Mejía’s Concerto for Harp and Orchestra “Solstice Lunaire” and Tunisian composer Samir Ferjani’s Opera “Sheherazade” featuring a solo harpist on stage. She is also a prolific arranger, whose scores are published by Profs Edition and SMP Press.

Equally at ease playing historical, traditional or electric harps, Maia has notably joined forces with world music, jazz, experimental electro, punk and reggae bands. Through numerous art residencies and stays in Maghreb and West and Central Africa (Niger, Guinea, Libya, Tunisia, Senegal, South Sudan…), she studied traditional music forms, teamed up with local musicians, taught workshops and worked on developing new playing techniques to help the harp grow in unexpected styles. Besides, having a taste for theatre, she performed as an on-stage musician and singer in six drama productions and musicals — as well as with dance companies. She also holds a Masters in International Affairs from Sciences Po Paris.