On the pedal harp and artistic direction, Maia Darmé is a French soloist of international renown, hailed as an ambassador for her instrument. Recognized for her commanding on-stage presence and expressive playing, she has been invited to headline concerts in over 30 countries spanning all continents. As a classical soloist, she has performed with numerous national orchestras – including in Morocco, Tunisia, Ukraine, Colombia, the Caribbean, and Malaysia – and on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, such as the Berliner Philharmonie, the Golden Hall in Vienna, and the Great Festival House of Salzburg.

Winner of the First Prize by unanimous decision at the UFAM International Competition and laureate of the Arts Initiative Prize from the Gatsby Foundation, Maia works closely with contemporary composers, premiering works dedicated to her. An eclectic musician, she is equally at ease playing historical, traditional and electric harps. She regularly experiments with a variety of musical genres and she pursues the most unexpected artistic projects, appearing on stage with her harp in six theatrical productions, collaborating with dance companies, and joining ensembles spanning rock, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, and experimental electronic music. She is also a prolific arranger, whose scores are published by Profs Edition and SMP Press.

She started playing the Celtic harp in Brittany at the age of six, before continuing her studies in classical harp at the conservatories of Épinal, Bordeaux, and Paris. She went on to learn under the guidance of some of the world’s most acclaimed harpists. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Harp Performance at the Australian National University under Alice Giles and toured Down Under with the much-loved Seven Harp Ensemble (SHE). She then pursued a Master’s in Composition at Columbia University, New York, exploring electroacoustic music at the legendary Computer Music Center. She completed her education with a Master’s in Jazz Harp at the Milan Conservatory under Park Stickney. Additionally, she holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Sciences Po Paris.