About

Hailing from the small town of Aberdeen Washington, Maria fell in love with the drums at an early age.  She found her love of jazz in high school after attending the Bud Shank Jazz Workshop in Pt. Townsend Washington, (now the Centrum Jazz Workshop), where she met and learned under Jeff Hamilton, Larance Marable, and Frankie Capp.  Attending the workshop for several summers laid the foundation for her desire to embark on a career in jazz along with making connections with future key players in the Northwest music scene. 

Music scholarships led her to study music at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham Oregon where she cut her teeth with the jazz band and vocal jazz group Genesis under the direction of Dave Barduhn. While at Mt. Hood Maria studied with local drummer Chris Condrad who passed along the teachings of Alan Dawson. Maria credits these jazz lessons as an invaluable foundation.  After two years at Mt. Hood and two years of studying under percussionist Dr. Joel Bluestone Maria set out to pursue a degree in her true calling and major in drum set at the prestigious University Of North Texas.

While pursuing a degree in jazz studies at UNT she mentored under Ed Soph, Dr. Robert Schietroma, and Ron Fink.  In addition, she had opportunities for lessons with jazz greats visiting the school such as Jeff Hamilton, Bob Breithaupt, and Jim Chapin.  While attending school Maria was an active performer in the Dallas area playing with groups like The Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Pete Peterson and the Collection, and the Richardson Symphony.  She performed in venues such as the Meyerson and Bass Performance Halls.

In 2000 Maria relocated back to the Pacific Northwest to set down roots and raise her family back home.  Maria quickly reintegrated her way back into the music scene. Because of her reputation as an excellent sight reader, Maria started getting calls to play with Seattle area big bands like The Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, the Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra, and the Jay Thomas Big Band. She also developed a reputation as a strong educator and became a regular judge and adjudicator at regional jazz festivals and solo and ensemble events.  Maria was asked to be a KPLU School of Jazz Mentor and guest recording artist on Volumes 6, 7, and 10. (now KNKX).  

In 2003 Maria went back to school to pursue a degree in Music Education and a Masters in Percussion Performance at the University of Washington. While pursuing her Masters she auditioned for and was chosen to be a member of the Sisters In Jazz Collegiate Combo sponsored by the International Association for Jazz Education (now JEN), and Black Entertainment Television.  While in that group she was mentored by pianist and composer Renee Rosness. Other members of the group included Linda Mae Oh, Janelle Reichman, Brenda Earle, and Ariel Alexander. While in the group Maria had the pleasure of performing at the IAJE conference in New York City and for the Marylou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.

After completing her graduate degrees Maria embarked on her Music Educator journey with stints teaching all types of music classes to all grade levels including Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Choir, Guitar, Class Piano, and Music Appreciation. Maria has also served as Adjunct faculty at many colleges in the area including Grays Harbor College, Pierce College, St. Martins University, and ten years at Pacific Lutheran University.  For six years she was director of the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, an all women 16 piece big band. She is currently percussion instructor at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. She can be seen performing in venues up and down the I-5 corridor from Seattle to Portland.

 View Maria’s calendar to see where she is playing next.