Maja Helmes (born Markert) was born in 1976. She studied with Christer Nilsson at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen and with Prof. Bill Forman at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin.

While studying in Berlin, Maja was selected to be a member of the Karajan Academy where she participated in numerous concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and studied with principal trumpet player Tamas Velenczei.

Maja is currently studying for her concert examination which she will complete in Spring 2004 in Berlin. In addition to numerous solo performances, Maja has participated in concerts with diverse orchestras including the Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Neues Berliner Kammerorchester, and Komische Oper Berlin. She played in the European Youth Orchestra and as solo trumpet in the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. At that time she was also accepted into the World Youth Orchestra. In the 2002/2003 season Maja was solo trumpet with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Since 2004, she has been alternate solo trumpeter with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony.

Maja has received the following awards:

• January 2002, "Rødovre Musikpris"

• May 2002, 1st prize at the trumpet competition arranged by the Cultural Community for German Trades and Industry

• September 2002, Jacob Gade Prize

• January 2003, Scholarship from the "Léonie Sonning Music Foundation"

Maja plays the following instruments:

Bach Stradivarius B-trp, ML, heavy weight, 43 leadpipe.
Bach Stradivarius C-trp. L. silverplated Bob Malone MC2 leadpipe.
Joseph Monke Bb-trumpet.
Joseph Monke C-trumpet.
Kromat Piccolo.
Yamaha fluegelhorn.
Schilke Eb-trumpet.

Mouthpieces: Bach 3B, Schilke 11A, 1½C Bach Flygelhorn and Yamaha 17 C4.