BEYOND THE VOICE

Growing up in Washington, DC, Maya has always been deeply curious about the relationship between civic responsibility and the power of music. Whether it was seeing international musical diplomacy as a child singing with the Washington National Opera, or training at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where Jazz, Gospel, and African-American spiritual traditions influenced her curriculum- Maya is inspired to connect the broadest spectrum of humanity through music. 

As the president of the University of Cincinnati's Opera Club, she curated meaningful events, such as a Panel on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Opera, Opera Workshops, and Toi-Toi-Tuesdays, an outdoor recital exposing college kids to opera. Her final mark at CCM was her senior recital, a 45-minute program comprised solely of female and POC composers, which she delivered to a packed audience. 

Maya spent several summers studying abroad while earning a certificate in Italian Language and Culture from UC. In Reggio Emilia, she studied Gender, Race, and Identity courses and wrote her research paper "Operasentation: an Intersectional Approach to Representation in Opera." In Lucca, she organized free and accessible flash mobs of high-quality music in Puccini's hometown. Through connecting with a local film crew, Maya even directed a short documentary for Opera Lucca featuring rehearsal footage and faculty interviews.