Biography
Canadian conductor Maria Fuller is a rising star on the international conducting scene. Hailed as an artist of “subtle control, careful focus and thorough professionalism,” by the Chronicle Journal, and as “fiery and dynamic,” by The Walley Magazine, Maria demonstrates unparalleled energy and infectious joy in her music-making. She performs internationally as a conductor, pianist, trumpeter, and is admired for her diversity of repertoire and breadth of accomplishments. She is also an acclaimed vocal coach and collaborative pianist, an award-winning composer, and sought after orchestral arranger.
In 2019, Maria was awarded the David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the renowned Chautauqua Institute, (New York), and began a two-year position as the Resident Conductor and Chorus Director of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. In that same season, she represented Canada in the inaugural La Maestra International Conducting Competition (Paris), and was subsequently invited to compete in competitions in Portugal and Turkey. For the 22/23 season, Maria joins the Women in Musical Leadership program, a fellowship through whom she assists and guest conducts over 25 orchestras and opera companies across Canada. This season also marks the start of her role as the founding Music Director of Ammolite Opera in Calgary, Alberta.
Last June, Maria conducted Carmen with Saskatoon Opera, garnering the review: “Conductor Maria Fuller had the orchestra and ensemble at the best the Saskatoon Opera has seen in years.” Last fall she assisted Timothy Vernon at Pacific Opera Victoria, and Tyrone Paterson at Manitoba Opera. This season, Fuller looks forward to working on a Koerner Hall (Toronto) production of A Little Night Music as repetiteur and cover conductor, and to her debuts with the Victoria, Kingston, Hamilton, and Winnipeg symphonies. This season she will assist the National Arts Centre Orchestra, as well as the Nova Scotia, Regina, and Hamilton symphonies. This April, Maria was to represent Canada in the Ferit Tüzün 1st International Conducting Competition in Turkey, but due to the recent tragedy, this engagement has been postponed.
Prior to conducting, Maria studied, competed and worked extensively as a solo pianist, collaborator and opera coach. Recent highlights include her album, “Great Southern Land,” released under the Navona Recording Label with Yamaha Artist Philip Chase Hawkins, and her recording of “Der Erlkonig” with Canadian bass baritone Philippe Sly which has made her a YouTube sensation. Often compared with the Jessye Norman and Fischer-Dieskau/Gerald Moore renditions, hers is played at major conservatories all around the world. In 2016, Maria was selected as apprentice vocal coach at the Banff Centre, and in 2020 she won the keyboard placement for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Her involvement with the Franz Schubert Institute and the Mozarteum has garnered her recital appearances across Austria, including at the Beethoven Haus. Maria has performed for pianists Lang-Lang, Lee Kum-Sing, André Laplante, Julius Drake, Helmut Deutsch, and for singers Robert Holl, Barbara Bonney, and Elly Ameling. As a composer, Maria writes for symphonic orchestra, smaller ensemble configurations, and for chorus and orchestra. Her piece for piano, trumpet and strings, “RESOLUTION” No. 1 from Fractals won an award at the Women Composing for Trumpet Competition in 2020, (Texas), and has since been performed by several orchestras. As an arranger, Maria’s orchestral holiday music is performed across Canada, including her orchestral variety pop show: “Holiday Pops Across the World,” which features 14 different countries and is sung in seven languages.
Maria holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from Mcgill University, a Masters of Music in Piano, and Artist Diploma in Operatic Coaching, and a Masters of music in Orchestral Conducting, from the College-Conservatory of Music CCCM). For more: www.mariafuller.com