Professional Singer/Master Teacher/Performance Coach
Professional mezzo-soprano Maria McDaniel has built a successful music career as a regional opera singer, highly skilled voice technician and dynamic vocal performance coach for singers of all levels.
Ms. Maria first discovered her talent for classical singing during high school in her hometown near Chicago, Illinois. She developed her niche on the opera stage during her undergraduate studies at Millikin University where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She received a full graduate assistantship to complete her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University. She is now one of the most sought-after soloists and advanced vocal music teachers in the Atlanta area.
Ms. Maria has since performed leading, supporting and chorus roles in several languages encompassing a wide variety of operas ranging from Mozart to Wagner to contemporary Chinese composers. In addition to singing opera, she has performed as an alto soloist in oratorio concert works with symphony orchestras and churches throughout the Southeast; including members of the Atlanta Symphony, Cobb Symphony, Ludwig Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic and Gainesville Symphony. She has also travelled the country as a solo recitalist performing a wide variety of art song, musical theater and cabaret repertoire sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs from 2011-2013. She is consistently praised in reviews for her excellence in versatility of repertoire, expressive passion, flexible virtuosity and her rich and commanding presence.
As a member of the renowned Atlanta Opera Chorus from 2007-2011, Ms. Maria performed with some of the greatest singers, conductors and stage directors in opera today. Now as a principle artist, she has also been a featured soloist in many concerts and outreach events with the company. Regionally, she has also performed with North Carolina Opera as the mezzo soloist in recital. Maria completed two summers in the nationally recognized Young Artist Program (both Studio and Apprentice) at Chautauqua Opera in New York. Maria continues to appear regularly in supporting roles with The Atlanta Opera on both the main stage and in concert.
Internationally, Ms. Maria made her debut with the Chinese National Symphony in 2011 with the prestigious musical exchange program, I Sing Beijing, at the National Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Maria also trained abroad in Milan, Italy, at the Institute for the International Education of Students, where she also performed opera and chamber music at a music festival in Vienna, Austria. In addition, she also spent three summers training and performing with La Musica Lirica at the Centro Studi Italiani in Urbania, Italy. As an actress, Maria was selected to perform Italian theater scenes at an international theater festival in Berlin, Germany.
As a natural showstopper, Ms. Maria has also successfully contended in several vocal competitions for emerging opera singers throughout the country. Prizes won include Second Prize at the 2012 Irene Dalis Voice Competition with Opera San Jose, Winner of Women’s Voice Young Artist Division of the 2011 National Federation of Music Clubs in Washington D.C., First Place 2010 American Traditions Competition at the Savannah Music Festival, and 2009 Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions at Spivey Hall.
Ms. Maria’s ongoing education and training with top classical voice teachers, coaches and singing specialists give her a broad base of knowledge of the voice, vocal pedagogy, performance psychology and excellence in vocal performance in a large variety of repertoire. Therefore, she offers her students a distinctive and competitive edge that is reflected in AAVA students’ numerous accomplishments and awards. Her students have achieved vocal competition prizes, college scholarships, Broadway debuts, concert tours, television appearances (2017 America's Got Talent) and successful careers in music related fields.