Elena Maria Gaia Castini

Elena Maria Gaia Castini (b. 1994, Florence) began studying harp at the age of five with Antonella Mantovani and graduated with top marks and honours from the “Luigi Cherubini” Conservatory of Florence at just seventeen.

She went on to complete advanced degrees in harp performance at the Conservatories of Parma and Fiesole, studying with renowned harpists such as Emanuela Degli Esposti, Laura Papeschi, Susanna Bertuccioli, Luisa Prandina, and Patrizia Tassini. She has also participated in international masterclasses with Isabelle Moretti, Petra van der Heide, Park Stickney, Sylvain Blassel, and Mara Galassi.
She performs both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles such as the Phoenix Trio and the Iris Duo, with whom she has won several prizes, including second prize at the 2023 Suoni d’Arpa International Competition. As an orchestral harpist, she has collaborated with major ensembles including the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento, Arena di Verona, Teatro Verdi of Trieste, Southbank Sinfonia (London), and the Orchestra Filarmonica di Lucca, performing in venues such as the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna.
Her solo appearances include Mozart’s Concerto K.299 for flute and harp and Debussy’s Danses sacrée et profane, and she has worked under distinguished conductors including Daniel Oren, Placido Domingo, Ottavio Dantone, and Daniele Gatti. In 2018, her master’s thesis on Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s works for harp was presented at the Second National Harp Symposium in Italy.
Alongside her performing career, she is also active as a teacher, currently teaching at the municipal music schools of Prato and Pistoia. She has also taught at the "Passaglia" Music High School in Lucca and has organized events such as the closing concert of the 2022 Harpissima Festival in collaboration with Salvi Harps.