Maria Montano, Violin

Dr. Maria Montano began her musical studies in Venezuela through the renowned El Sistema Youth Orchestra Network. She later moved to the United States to continue her education and became an active contributor to the musical scene in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Dr. Montano is the co-founder of Strings Avenue Studio, where she has built a thriving viola studio.

She served as Director of Programs and Viola Coach for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) and was previously on the faculties of Levine Music and the Landon School. As a performer, Dr. Montano has held positions with the Alexandria Symphony, National Philharmonic, Vox Amadeus Ensemble, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and served as Assistant Principal Viola of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician, she regularly performs with the Strings Avenue Ensemble and the Musica Viva Orchestra and has been on the faculty of the Douro Strings Academy in Portugal.

Dr. Montano holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Viola Performance from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her principal mentors include violists Katherine Murdock, Daniel Foster, Michael Tree, Hsiaopei Lee, Michael Kimber, and Tomas Fajardo.