Introduction:
Maria King - Variety pianist
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About Maria...
Having graduated at the Royal Northern College Of Music, Maria King continued her postgraduate piano studies at the R.N.C.M, sponsored by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. During this time, Maria was invited to study contemporary music in Paris.
Maria has appeared both as concert soloist and duo partner at major venues across the country, including the Philharmonic Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Purcell Rooms, The National Portrait Gallery, St Martin in the Fields and the Lowry Quays Theatre. Also, she has given recitals at festivals including Northern Aldborough, Cheltenham (both Contemporary and International Festivals), Honiton, Rydale, Buxton and Bath. In addition, Maria has been recitalist at prestigious venues such as Chichester Cathedral, Hovingham Hall, Hillsborough Castle and Palace House Beaulieu as well as having performed a wide range of concertos. Apart from her concert schedule, Maria has worked extensively as an accompanist, and in this capacity, worked as a member of staff at the Royal Northern College of Music for eight years.
With her wide experience of working alongside both children and adults with moderate to severe learning difficulties, Maria has presented concerts and given workshops to socially disadvantaged people for years, working with Lord Yehudi Menuhin’s "Live Music Now!" scheme and takes great pride in working for ‘Council of Music In Hospitals', in which the aim is to assist the recovery and to improve the quality of life for people of every age, through the use of live music in residential homes, care centres and hospitals all over England and Wales .Maria has recently successfully completed an intensive Television Presenters Course with 'Pozitiv Productions', under the coaching of Glenn Kinsey, at Meridian Broadcasting Studios, Newbury. Maria's passion for presenting has led to her to giving workshops & concerts for children around the country.
Maria now regularly entertains passengers with a 'Headline Act' with her new shows on cruise liners around world, which she thoroughly enjoys! She has performed on cruise liners such as 'Holland America', 'Crystal', 'Princess', 'Saga', 'Celebrity', 'Seabourne' and in 2008 was invited to play on the final transatlantic crossing of the QE2.
Maria's shows reveal her unique style, personality and humour as she skilfully entertains at the piano many different styles of music such as Billy Joel, Dave Brubeck, Peggy Lee, Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' and more... not to forget a few vocal numbers thrown in, too!!
