Mara Galassi graduated in modern harp at two institutions, Pesaro Conservatoire od Music, and Civica Sculoa di Milano, where she studied with Luciana Chieri. Further studies followed: performance practice with David Collyer and Patrick O’Brien, and musicology with Michael Morrow.

Former principal harp for the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy, Mara continues to develop her activities as a soloist on historical harps and as a member of some of the most famous early music ensembles in Europe; she teaches historical harps in Milano at the Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado, and at the ESMUC in Barcelona.

She founded and currently directs the Ensemble de Harpes Sébastien Erard. Her many recordings include:
Il viaggio di Lucrezia (awarded the Choc de la music and Cannes Award), Les Harpes du Ciel with Gabriella Bosio, The Microcosm Concerto (Handel compositions for Welsh triple harp and Erard harp), Portrait of a Lady with Harp (Music at the Court of Christine of Sweden), Davidsharfen with Flora Papadopoulos (harp duets in the time of Bach), Il Finto Pariggino (voice, mandolin and harp) and Mozart Flute and harp Concerto (Freiburger Barockorchester). Mara’s varied work also includes musical and acting performances: Sidereus nuncius: Galileo e la Luna; Alltiddensamme: A Portrait of Christine of Sweden; and Art film: Voluptas Dolendi: I gesti del Caravaggio (ArtFILM, Fondazione Marco Fodella, 2010).