Maria Gouvali (born 1990) is a greek composer and saxophonist. She began her studies in classical saxophone and music theory in 1996 at the Municipal Conservatory of Lamia (Grecce). She received degrees in advanced music theory, obtaining diplomas in Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue with a grade of “Excellent” (Vassilis Kitsos class) and in 2011, she received her Diploma in Saxophone with the grade of “Excellent (unanimously)” (Thanos Fissekis class). She studied composition (Composition Class of Christos Samaras) at the Department of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), from where she graduated with the highest distinction.
As a soloist, she has given many recitals in important concert halls of Greece. Her compositions have, also, been performed by contemporary music ensembles in the National Radio of Greece and in many concert halls in Europe. She has attended master classes with distinguished Greek and foreign saxophonists: Jean Marie Londeix, Theodoros Kerkezos, Thanassis Zervas, Leo Saguiguit, Eric Honour etc as well as seminars of advanced music theory and composition with Theodoros Antoniou, Nikos Kypourgos, Giorgos Hatzinikos etc.
She has been awarded prizes in several national and international saxophone and composition competitions. Among others, the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar chose her twice (2017-2018) to perfome her compositions in Matinees about the premieres of ‘’Lulu’’ and ‘’The Marriage of Figaro’’. Since 2009, she is a member of the “European Center for Saxophone Study” in Bordeaux, France. From 2011 to 2016, she taught saxophone and music theory in music schools and music conservatories in Greece.
She lives in Weimar (Germany) where she attends her master studies in composition at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt (composition class of Michael Obst).
