Biography
With her velvety touch, virtuosity, and sensitivity, Mélanie Laurent is a young harpist whose fame has already crossed borders. Crowned with a First Prize at the USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington in 2019, one of the most prestigious competitions in the world, she is also the first harpist to be named Talent Adami Classique.
Initially introduced to classical music within a family of professional musicians, Mélanie trained with Dominique Piussan and Ghislaine Petit-Volta before joining the classes of Isabelle Moretti and Geneviève Létang at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. After winning First Prize at the Léopold Bellan competition in 2017, her victory at the Bloomington international competition in 2019 launched her onto the international stage.
Since then, she has performed solo at the MITO SettembreMusica festival in Milan and Turin, at Lyon&Healy’s Hall in Chicago, at the Indiana History Center in Indianapolis, at the Les Musicales de Normandie festival, and many others. In August 2021, she shared the stage with cellist Gautier Capuçon during his « Un été en France » tour. In January 2022, she performed Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, with Joséphine Poncelin on flute and Marta Gardolińska conducting. Subsequently, one of her concerts at the Dubai Opera was recorded by Mezzo TV in March 2022, where she performed Debussy’s Danses, accompanied by the Ensemble K and conductor Simone Menezes.
After a recital in Tel Aviv at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium, she was invited to the prestigious French May Arts Festival held in June 2023 in Hong Kong. In the spring of 2024, she made her debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, first in Gabriel Pierné’s Konzertstück with the Orchestre Colonne and Marc Korovitch, then with the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris under the baton of Fabien Gabel as part of the Palazzetto Bru Zane festival.
Since February 2023, Mélanie Laurent has held the position of principal harpist with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. She teaches at the Strasbourg Conservatory and the Haute École des Arts du Rhin.
Featured on the cover of the American magazine HarpColumn, Mélanie Laurent is described as an « inspiration » while the magazine Resmusica praises her « flamboyant playing, combining power and precision ». According to Gautier Capuçon, « Mélanie Laurent splendidly continues the great tradition of French harp ».
Mélanie Laurent is a laureate of the Fondation Banque Populaire and the Fondation Safran.
She plays a Style 23th Gold harp by Lyon&Healy, won at the USA International Harp Competition.
