“Music is the universal language that brings people together. The vocalist brings life to a song, telling a story through the interplay of lyrics and melody.”  ~ Maria

With a smile in her voice, Maria’s impeccable articulation and precise diction captivate audiences in a musical breeze of swinging standards, romantic ballads and Brazilian rhythms. Inspired by Nat King Cole, Freddie Cole, Marc Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson, her spellbinding stage presence will uplift your mind and brighten your day. Maria treats every song like a painting, drawing from her own experiences and interpretations of these timeless songs to engage the listener.

Maria is a vocalist, recording artist and band leader. Some performance highlights include Five Points Jazz Festival, Dazzle Jazz, Vancouver Art Gallery, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Cellar Jazz, Frankie’s Jazz Club, TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, BC Children’s Hospital, Christmas Market and 2010 Winter Olympics celebrations.

On her début album Where or When, she recorded with Richie Cole, Warren Vaché, George Robert, Krishna Booker and Phil Dwyer. “Just a Touch” was chosen as bumper music on Coast to Coast AM. Songs from the album were also featured on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, CBC Radio across Canada, DR P1 and DR P8 Jazz in Denmark and KUVO in Denver.

In December 2013 Maria recorded “The Christmas Song” which was heard on DR P1 Radio, KUVO and CBC Radio One. In 2014 she was chosen as one of five top vocalists in “Best Vocalist of the Month” Competition, SingerUniverse, Los Angeles. In July 2014, she was interviewed by Erik Troe, host of Jazz Caravan on KUVO, followed by a live performance at Dazzle Jazz.

Her second album Smile has received rotation airplay in Denver and New York while “September in the Rain” was chosen on July 3, 2015 by All About Jazz – Download of the Day. 

Maria has released her third album As Time Goes By with special guests Campbell Ryga, Seamus Blake, Phil Dwyer and Lionel Young consisting of timeless gems and enduring classics by Johnny Mandel, Michel Legrand, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer and Burt Bacharach. This release coincided with a performance at Five Points Jazz Festival in Denver, where she was interviewed by Rodney Franks at KUVO about her new album and the musicians who would accompany her. She performed with her quintet on The Main Stage of Five Points Jazz Festival with special guest Richie Cole, plus Jeff Jenkins, Paul Romaine and Bijoux Barbosa.

Maria’s music was discovered in Italy by Francesco Sorrenti, President of Holly Music and his colleague Gianni Ephrikian, orchestral composer and conductor. In the June 27 issue of Corriere del Sud, Maria’s latest album was reviewed by well-known essayist and journalist Amedeo Furfaro.

During her visit in Italy, Maria performed at several events including the Gala Dinner for the Premio Vassilij Kandinsky “Music and Color” Award, 2018 Visual Arts International Expo at Queenartstudio Gallery, at Osteria Canova, and at the Morari exhibit “dal segno alla danza dei colori”, Musei Civici Treviso.

Maria was invited to perform in Las Vegas at The Dispensary Lounge Jazz Club with The Uli Geissendoerfer Trio. Then, she was invited to appear on The Dennis Bono Syndicated Show – From Las Vegas.

Maria was invited to perform at Dazzle Jazz, accompanied by Denver’s top jazz musicians, followed by a Jazz Vespers concert at The Mercury Cafe with her quartet. Maria also was invited to play a Jazz Vespers concert at The Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, North Carolina.

Maria has recently written a number of original compositions, and has completed a recording with Fred Stride, orchestra conductor and music director at UBC. Maria’s music can be heard regularly on jazz stations in New York, Denver, Canada and Italy.

Maria is drawn to the Great American Songbook for its beautiful and timeless melodies with witty, intelligent and subtle lyrics. Some of her favourite composers and lyricists include Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Jerome Kern, Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Antonio Carlos Jobim. These are timeless songs written by some of the greatest composers of our time. It is vital to keep the beauty of this art form alive.

Maria served as Vice-Chair of Audio Engineering Society (AES) – Vancouver Section, 2013-2016, and enjoys photography, graphic design, videography, movies, ice-skating, dining and traveling.