Marieke Schoenmakers received her first harp lessons of Annelies Houtman-Knaven. She continued these lessons with Ernestine Stoop at the Brabants Conservatorium and later at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.

During her studies Marieke was laureate in competitions of the Young Musicians Foundation Netherlands and she followed different courses and masterclasses with harpists such as Catherine Michel, Marielle Nordmann, Brigitte Sylvestre and Daphne Boden. She received her diploma with distinction Second Phase solo and orchestral playing.

Throughout her studies Marieke was harpist with the National Youth Orchestra and substituted in orchestras such as the Brabant Orchestra and the Residentie Orkest. Since January 2003 she works as a harpist associated with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra (as of season 2013/2014 philharmonie zuidnederland). With this orchestra she also appeared as a soloist.

In addition to her orchestral work Marieke makes chamber music in various ensembles and forms a duo with oboist Tanja van der Kooij. In the field of contemporary (room) music she is also active and assisted in concerts with ensembles like Asko|Schönberg, Nieuw Ensemble and the Ives Ensemble.