Harpist Marie Nivel - Marie Nivel

Legend tells us that the harp is a magical instrument played by fairies. The Tuatha De Dannan, the sidhe or fairy people from Ireland are said to spellbind humans with the sweet sound of the harp. Often people disappear to the otherworld to never be seen again…

It was in England when I befriended a local folk band, that I caught sight of the harp.

I was mesmerized by its sound and beautiful appearance. I knew that I needed this instrument in my life, I just didn’t knew when and how. Some years later I finally had the possibility to buy my own harp, this is where the story begun.

If the fairies played a hand at this, remains a secret, all I know is that I love to breathe new life into old songs and stories and to share my deep love for the magic of nature and for this beautiful instrument.

Although I was born in a small town in the south of Germany, I had been living in Ireland, France and England by the time I turned 20.

My upbringing was infused with the kind of magic nature can offer us.

I was an outdoor child spending hour after hour in nature, roaming the countryside together with my brothers. I was fascinated by music and dance early on and started to take violin and dance lessons at age 7.

I continued to play music while attending college for dance and performing arts.

With a father who was a doctor and with the healing legacy of the harp, I was always interested in its therapeutic qualities. In 2016 I graduated from the International Harp Therapy Program under the leadership of harpist Christina Tourin.

I am now certified as a therapeutic harp practitioner.