Maya Verlaak (Ghent, 1990) studied composition with Gilius van Bergeijk, Diderik Wagenaar, Peter Adriaansz and Martijn Padding at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. After graduating she obtained a PhD in composition at Birmingham City University. Maya composed for ensembles including Ensemble Klang, London Sinfonietta, the Divertimento Ensemble, Slagwerkgroep Den Haag and the International ‘Ensemble Modern’ Academy. Her work has been performed at festivals such as Dag in de Branding, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the London Contemporary Music Festival.

Maya is also a stage artist and organiser. She regularly participates in performances of her own music and she was co-founder and member of the Acid Police Noise Ensemble, an artists’ collective focusing on performance art. She curates Post-Paradise, a concert programme for young composers in Birmingham, which has been supported by the Arts Council England since 2017.