Guest Soloist

Kristin Maahs, harp

Harpist, Kristin Maahs, is an experienced musician who performs extensively throughout Central Iowa. As an active musician she has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Community Orchestra, and the Ames Children's Choirs.

Kristin started playing harp at age 9 and continued her formal studies at the University of Northern Iowa. She received a Bachelor's degree in Harp Performance, studying with Mary Beckman. During five summers she attended the Salzedo School, in Camden, Maine, under the guidance of master teachers Jeanne and Alice Chalifoux. In 2005, at the Cairde na Cruite School in Ireland, Kristin studied Celtic harp with Maire ni Chathasaigh. Kristin is a Suzuki Harp Teacher instructed by Mary Kay Waddington who developed the Suzuki Harp Method. For over 20 years Kristin has been teaching the skills of playing the harp to students of all ages from young children to adults.

Along with flutist, Sandra Wacha and cellist, Tom Hudson, Kristin is a member of the chamber group Odyssey Trio. Since 1996 they have recorded five CDs, "Winter White", "Always Autumn", "Summer", "Holly & Ivy", and "Spring". The Odyssey Trio has performed in concert for the Ottumwa, Perry, Grand View Nielsen, Salisbury, and St. John's Concert series. 

In 2000 and 2008 the trio was selected to play in concert for the National Flute Convention in Columbus, Ohio, and Kansas City, Missouri. In 2003, Kristin was invited to perform with the Irish band the Chieftains at their concert in Des Moines, as a memorial to the band's harper, Derek Bell. Kristin is a half of the Aran Daughters, a Celtic Harp Duo, along with harper, Barb Evenson. The Aran Daughters are featured artists at the LaCrosse Irish Festival, where Kristin placed first in the professional division of the harp competition this past summer.