Anna Makarova was born in Leningrad. As with many of her Philharmonic colleagues she is an alumni of the School for Gifted Children of the Leningrad Conservatory. While there, she was awarded second prize at the all-USSR Youth Competition in 1989. Shortly after entering the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg Conservatory she won both the Rosenbloom Award and the prestigious International Harp Contest in Israel. Since 1992 Anna has been a soloist with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and today is its principal harpist. She regularly takes part in major international festivals throughout the world. In 2002 she was invited to teach at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg Conservatory. Ms. Makarova also gives master classes in China, Europe and the United States.