Maddi Arriola Mendieta was born in Mendaro (Gipuzkoa) in 2004 into a family of violinists. At the age of 5 she began to play violin guided by her parents.
She was a student of Raffaella Accela and since 2021 she is studying with Liana Gourdjia. Maddi participated in several editions of the EIO Gazte (Young Orchestra of Basque Students) which she joined at the age of ten. She was awarded in two consecutive editions of the Competition of Young Musicians of the Basque Country in the string instruments category (second prize in 2018, first prize in 2019).
Between 2013 and 2018 she participated in several editions of the “Pirineos Classic” summer courses, receiving lessons from teachers such as Anna Baget, Miguel Colom, and Mariana Todorova; she also specialized with Maria-Elisabeth Lott (“Summer Music 2017” in Nagold, Germany) and Tatiana Samouil (“Forum Musikae Summer” 2019). For 3 years Maddi participated in the traditional music course “Crisol de Cuerda” directed by famous Scottish violinist Alasdair Fraser.
In 2021, thanks to the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation, she participated in the final of the “Peregrinos Musicales” Festival competition, performing as a soloist with the Galician Philharmonic Orchestra.
Maddi also participated in the AIMS Foundation course for 2 years studying with Liana Gourdjia, with whom she is currently perfecting her skills at the Higher Music Center of the Basque Country “MUSIKENE”.