In addition to being a National Small Jazz Artist with her song Pour Me A Cup of Yesterday airing across the country and charting on the Groove Jazz Charts, Maria has recently been named the first Adjunct Professor of Applied Vocal Jazz at Kent State University. She is also Principal Conductor of The Open Tone Music Academy and lead vocalist for their parent organization, The Jazz Heritage Orchestra, where musicians from around come to perform.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, this former traffic reporter and disc jockey lived in Los Angeles for twelve years and sang prestigious venues such as The Langham Huntington (formerly the Ritz Carlton,) The Four Seasons in Westlake Village, Chaya of Beverly Hills, B.B. Kings Blues Club and The Torrance Civic Center to name a few.
She recorded with several well-known artists including Alphonso Johnson and Ndugu Chancler of Weather Report. Maria has co-written and recorded with platinum selling writer/producer Tommy Coster and one of her original gospel songs was performed by acclaimed keyboardist/songwriter Lafayette Carthon and FAITH. She has opened for acts like jazz trumpeter/songwriter Chuck Mangione (The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano,) and jazz singer/songwriter Bob Dorough (Columbus, Ohio,)
Other acclaimed artists Maria has worked with include Music Director Damien Sneed (Wynton Marsalis), Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke (Broadway), William Henry Caldwell and Robert Porco (Cleveland Orchestra,) and Pat Harris (Jazz Heritage Orchestra).
Maria has released six solo albums: No Frills, Free As A Dove, Chasing Dreams, Art of the Duo and Here Comes Winter, Lucky Girl, and is due to release her seventh album in 2019. It will be a compilation album of her first six, and will include a newly recorded original song entitled Hold On Your Heart. She performs in Los Angeles, New York, and some historic Cleveland venues including Severance Hall (where she sang solo with the Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus,) Playhouse Square, Night Town, Blu Jazz, the House of Blues and The TV8 Morning Show.