A class with historical performance students focused on continuo playing with Maria Cleary, harpist.
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Born in Ireland, Maria Christina Cleary plays harps from the medieval times to the harpe organisée. She has been a prizewinner at international competitions (Soka Internation Harp Competition Japan 1996), has worked as principal harpist in the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam and has performed as soloist, among others, with the American Bach Soloists, Portland Baroque Orchestra and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. In 2014 she was one of three featured soloists at The World Harp Congress in Sydney, premiering a harp Concerto by Krumpholtz on a harpe organisée.
She teaches informed musical practices, historical styles, improvisation and non-standardised musical interpretations to modern and historical players worldwide. She teaches historical harps at the Conservatorio E. F. Dall’Abaco, Verona, Italy.
Maria was awarded a PhD from Leiden University in 2016, the first monographic study on harp pedal techniques.