Harp Master Class | Ghislaine Petit-Volta

RAINIER III ACADEMY | Marc César SCOTTO Auditorium

On November 3 and 4, we are pleased to welcome Ghislaine Petit-Volta, an internationally renowned harpist, for a harp masterclass.

On this occasion, a recital showcasing the work of the students in Ionella Marinutsa’s class will take place

on November 4 at 4:00 p.m. at the Rainier III Academy.

Parents are warmly invited to come listen to their children and share this beautiful musical moment with them.

Ghislaine Petit-Volta | biography

An internationally renowned harpist, dedicated educator, and French musical explorer, she is particularly recognized for her ability to create a dialogue between her instrument’s historical repertoire and contemporary compositions. Trained by leading figures such as Pierre Jamet and Brigitte Sylvestre, she completed her studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris before forging a unique artistic identity. Refusing to confine the harp to the traditional classical repertoire, she conceives of the instrument as a voice capable of transcending eras and embracing diverse forms of expression. Her repertoire thus ranges from medieval music—recorded notably on the Harmonia Mundi label—to the avant-garde of electroacoustic music, encompassing musical theater, dance, video, and film. In 1990, she also wrote the screenplay for a television film paying tribute to her mentor Pierre Jamet, titled *Un siècle de harpe* and broadcast on the ARTE channel.

A sought-after soloist and chamber musician—notably as a member of the Trio Antara—Ghislaine Petit-Volta collaborates closely with the greatest composers of our time, including Pierre Boulez, John Cage, Klaus Huber, Tôn Thất Tiết, Martin Matalon, and Peter Eötvös. Her career has also been marked by prestigious concerts under the baton of legendary conductors such as Sir Georg Solti, Sir Simon Rattle, Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, and Valery Gergiev, and alongside renowned musicians such as Gérard Caussé, Bruno Pasquier, and Philippe Bernold.

Alongside her performing career, she places teaching at the heart of her life as an artist. As a holder of the Certificat d’Aptitude, she teaches the harp and harp pedagogy in the Department of Pedagogy at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris, and at the Pôle Supérieur d’enseignement artistique Paris Boulogne-Billancourt. Driven by a desire to engage young people with contemporary music, she co-founded and serves as artistic director of Collegium21, an innovative international competition designed to build direct bridges between young performers and contemporary composers. Her comprehensive approach makes her a key and inspiring figure in the French music scene.

Ghislaine Petit-Volta’s official website | ghislainepetit-volta.com