Maria Krushevskaya

Maria Krushevskaya (born 1984) is a Russian harpist. She was the Gold Medalist of the 2007 USA International Harp Competition, where she was awarded the Jan Jennings Prize for best performance of Pierné’s Concertstück for Harp and Orchestra, the Mary L. Ogg Prize for best performance of Küne’s Fantaisie sur un theme de l’opera Eugene Onegin, and best performance of Alvars' Introduction and Variations on Themes from Bellini’s Opera Norma.

Born in Russia, Maria has been studying the harp since the age 7 at the Gnessin School of Music in Moscow. She has won numerous prizes including national harp competitions, a prize at the 1999 Concours International de Harpe “Hommage à Martine Géliot”, second prize at the 2002 Lily Laskine International Harp Competition, and fifth prize at the 2004 USA International Harp Competition. Krushevskaya has been an active recitalist and concerto soloist throughout Russia and Europe, performing with such organizations as State Cinematography Symphony, the Saratov Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nizhniy Novgorod Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of St. Petersburg’s Philharmonic. Her solo appearances include the Gargiles International Harp Festival in France, and the International Harp Academy Harp Masters in Switzerland. She has recorded for television and radio programs, also recording her first CD in 2006. Maria continues her studies with Milda Agazarian at the Gnessin Academy.

As a result of her 2007 Competition win, Krushevskaya was invited to give a Presentation Concert in the Big Hall of Russia at the Music Academy in Moscow, and will give a solo recital at the Royal Academy of Music in London in November 2008. She also won a position with the Bolshoi Ballet.