Mara - Piano and Voice

photo • Robert Luk Studio

While growing up in Richmond, Virginia, Mara began studying piano at age nine after watching and learning from her older siblings. As she continued her studies in piano, Mara also sang with several vocal ensembles and performed in Cambridge, England as well as Paris. While attending St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA, Mara directed and sang with Censations, an a capella ensemble.

Fluent in French, Mara studied abroad at the Université Paul-Valéry in Montpellier, France, before completing her Bachelor of Arts in Music and French from the College of William and Mary. She is currently pursuing her second degree, a Bachelor of Music Education in piano and voice at Virginia Commonwealth University. As part of her degree at VCU, Mara has studied guitar, woodwinds, percussion, music education techniques, and child psychology in addition to her concentration in piano and voice.

When she’s not studying or teaching, Mara performs as a vocalist and guitarist with a local band, for which she composes original music. Mara is also the Assistant Director for the City Singers Children's Choir, a non-profit organization that gathers children from around the Richmond area to make music. Mara accepts beginning to advanced voice students ages 12 and up, and piano students ages 5 and up.