Shamim Minoo, born in 2004 in Tehran, is the first in her family to pursue a career in music. She began her musical journey at the age of six in Iran, studying both harp and singing. By twelve, she was performing with major Iranian orchestras, including the Iranian Youth Orchestra, where she played Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp. In the following years, she performed with the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, the Iranian National Orchestra, and the Tehran Philharmonic Orchestra.
After winning First Prize at the Excellence Level at the “Concours Français de la Harpe,” new doors opened for Shamim with recital opportunities in Limoges and Paris. She then moved to Paris in 2020 to study harp under the tutelage of Ghislaine Petit-Volta at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (CRR). Shamim earned her Bachelor’s degree with the highest distinction, Très Bien à l’unanimité avec les félicitations du jury, and she is currently completing her final year of her Master’s degree at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), under the guidance of Isabelle Moretti and Geneviève Létang.
Throughout 2024, Shamim has been performing solo recitals across Italy and France, including notable appearances at the Harpissima event and the Camac Music Festival. She was also awarded the Rossetti Prize, which led Shamim to perform Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Concertino for Harp and Orchestra with the Nuovo Orchestra Scarlatti in Italy. During the summer of 2024, Shamim was awarded a full scholarship to the Aspen Music Festival. There, she studied and performed alongside renowned harpist Nancy Allen, gaining invaluable experience. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform with several well-known musicians including Roderick Cox and Robert Spano, among others.
She won the Gold Medal and the Renié Prize at the 13th USA International Harp Competition (2025). She had previously been awarded First Prize at the Szeged International Harp Competition (under 25 category) in Hungary (2022), and First Prize at the 2023 Suoni d’Arpa Competition (Category C) in Italy. She also performed at the Philharmonie de Paris with the Conservatoire Orchestra under the direction of Kirill Karabits, Lionel Bringuier and Frank Strobel.
Shamim has been named a laureate of the Société générale, Fondation de l’Or du Rhin, the Safran Foundation, and the Prix de harp Monique Rollin (Fondation de France 2024,2025).
Shamim has been praised by Harp Column Magazine for “the resilience and thoughtfulness that define her artistry.” She continues to inspire audiences worldwide through her expressive performances and refined musicality.