About Mary

My love of jazz began as a child watching black and white musicals with my grandmother.  Hearing Fred Astaire sing such songs as "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Night and Day" started a love affair with 1930s and 40s jazz that continues to this day.  My singing reflects the elegance of 1930s and 1940s jazz.  It was clear when I began singing even before I could talk that Vocal Performance would inevitably be my college major.  I earned a Bachelor's degree in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from Nazareth College and a Master's degree in Music from Temple University in Philadelphia.  I've studied voice with Barbara Staropoli, Lawrence Indik and Mario Martinez.   

Performance History

As a versatile performer, I've had experience in musical theater, opera, jazz, and classical voice.  In 2014, I produced and starred in a jazz concert, "The Songs of Fred Astaire," laying out the life of my favorite performer in stories and songs, to a sold out audience at MuCCC Theater.  Five months later, I produced and performed in, "Jazz and Desserts," a concert sponsored by local bakeries that provided cupcakes, cheesecake and cookies.  I have been featured with the Brockport Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Allentoff, performing original arrangements and world premiere compositions by the conductor.   I sing with the Gateswingers Big Band and the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra alongside such musicians as Buddy Colinari, Dave Mancini, Tony Ferra, Tim Sullivan, Ron Bowks, and Mark Zecchino.  I have performed at such venues as Rochester’s Downstairs Cabaret Theater, Wegman's Concert Series at the Charlotte Gazebo, the Burgundy Basin Inn, the Stardust Ballroom, and Legacy at the Fairways Concert Series.  On the stage, I've performed such roles as Adele in Die Feldermaus, Sister Angelica in Sister Angelica, and the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro.   I've also performed such musical roles as June in Gypsy, Cinderella in Into the Woods, Lily in The Secret Garden and Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  I've also sung with the Philadelphia Pops Festival Chorus under the baton of Peter Nero.   I continue to expand my repertoire and share my love of music!