Maria Graf

Maria Graf took up the harp at the age of eleven, and learnt the instrument within the thriving musical culture of Bavaria. She studied the harp with Prof. Ursula Lentrodt at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München as well as with Prof. Pierre Jamet in Paris, and was awarded her master diploma (Meisterdiplom) in 1980. She won many prizes and has received international awards throughout her career. Maria Graf gained experience in playing in a symphony orchestra with the Münchner Philharmoniker under the baton of Sergiu Celibidache; she was principal harpist with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Herbert von Karajan. Her manifold solo and chamber music programmes have established a close connection with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. She regularly makes guest appearances at festivals in Berlin, Salzburg, Bad Kissingen, and at the Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus. For her chamber music performances, she joins forces with Irena Grafenauer, Gérard Caussé, the Rosamunde Quartet, the Petersen Quartet, and others. Numerous recordings document her broad repertoire. She has toured through most European countries, as well as to Japan. In 1988, Maria Graf was appointed professor for harp at the Musikhochschule Hamburg. She has been teaching at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin since 1997.