Address: Maria DiDonato 5415 Ely Vista Dr. Phone 440-570-8426 [email protected] Parma, Ohio 44129

Education/Training Degrees: M.M. in Vocal Performance, Cleveland State University (May 2018) B.M. in Music Education with minor in Theatre with Honors, Cleveland State University (December 2015) Associate of Fine Arts/Associate of Science, Cuyahoga Community College (May 2012) Primary Instrument: Voice Secondary Instrument: Piano

Teaching Experience Private Voice/Piano Instructor - Taught vocal/piano technique to Stagecrafters, students of varying ages, genders, September 2019-Present and abilities - Accompanied students - Created lesson plans for private students - Helped students build audition books and prep performances -Taught basic Music Theory to students Music Theory Adjunct Professor -Taught college students Theory I, Tri-c Western Campus, II, III, and IV August 2019-Present -Covered skills in melody, rhythm, harmony, four-part writing, voice- leading, etc. -Led analysis of musical works -Accompanied and played examples for students on the piano -Proctored/wrote/graded exams Music Director - Taught vocal technique to a cast Cleveland Public Theatre, of varying ages and abilities July 2019-Present - Directed/accompanied music rehearsals with actors - Hired pit orchestra - Directed/accompanied pit orchestra rehearsals - Accompanied rehearsals - Played Keyboard 1 for productions - Conducted pit orchestra from the keyboard -Helped in the development of a tangible score - Music directed the following show: A X-mas Cuento Remix Softball Coach (JV) - Taught high school students Valley Forge High School, proper throwing, fielding, running, February 2019-Present and hitting technique - Coached 3rd base - Planned practices/warm-ups - Prepped game scorebooks/line-up sheets - Delegated student duties/jobs -Served as a pitching coach to JV and Varsity players - Kept stats on hitting, pitching, and fielding Adjunct Professor - Taught basic music theory Cleveland State University, - Taught vocal technique January 2019-Present - Taught different stylistic implications for various musical theater genres - Assisted students in building audition books - Taught students blending of tone and vowels within musical theatre group numbers - Taught students acting through song techniques - Prepped a mock agent showcase with students - Accompanied all individual and group numbers within the course - Accompanied mock agent showcase - Reached out to local theatre professionals to attend mock agent showcase - Developed new syllabi - Wrote and graded all written Midterms/Assignments Music Director - Taught musical theater vocal Cleveland State University, technique to ages 18-45 September 2016-Present - Directed/accompanied music rehearsals with actors - Hired pit orchestra - Directed/accompanied pit orchestra rehearsals - Accompanied rehearsals - Played Keyboard 1 for productions - Conducted pit orchestra from the keyboard - Music directed the following shows: Into the Woods, Avenue Q, Company, Emotional Creature, and Violet Music Director - Taught musical theater vocal St. Mary’s Catholic School, technique to ages 10-15 February 2017-Present - Accompanied/directed music rehearsals - Played Key 1 for shows - Rehearsed and hired pit orchestra - Music directed the following shows: Aristocats Jr., Sleeping Beauty Jr., and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. Graduate Assistant - Directed sectionals for University Cleveland State University, Chorus and Chorale September 2016-May 2018 - Blocked scenes for Opera Theater Workshop - Directed music rehearsals for Opera Theater Workshop - Accompanied rehearsals for Opera Theater Workshop - Purchased and rented costumes for Opera Theater Workshop - Props Master for Opera Theater Workshop - Hired Lighting/Sound Designers, Fight Choreographers, and Acting Coaches for Opera Theater Workshop - Kept records for and updated the choral library - Made copies of and marked music for University Chorus and Chorale - Helped prep for University Chorus and Choral Concerts Music Director - Taught ages 8-35 proper vocal French Creek Theater technique Willy Wonka - Accompanied/Directed music June 2017-August 2017 rehearsals with actors - Hired pit orchestra - Trained pianist for productions - Directed pit orchestra rehearsals Substitute Teacher - Taught grade levels Preschool-12th Various NE Ohio Schools, grade a variety of subjects February 2016-May 2017 - Put various lesson plans into effect - Taught elementary and high school music, physical education, history, math, English, French, and science Student Teacher (Elementary) - Taught and wrote lesson plans for Kensington Elementary, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade general music October 2015-December 2015 - Transcribed and composed music using Musescore - Created notebook files to accompany the SMARTboard - Led vocal warm-ups and rehearsals for 5th grade choir - Accompanied/conducted 5th grade choir Student Teacher (Secondary) - Taught and wrote lesson plans for Berea-Midpark High, high school level choir August 2015-October 2015 - Led sectionals in Women’s Chorus and Symphonic Choir - Led choir rehearsals for Women’s Chorus, Symphonic Choir, Freshman Chorus, and Show Choir - Accompanied/conducted fall concert Music Director - Taught ages 5-14 proper singing Academy for the Dramatic Arts technique A Charlie Brown Christmas, - Directed music rehearsals November 2015-December - Accompanied music rehearsals 2015 - Hired pit orchestra - Directed pit orchestra rehearsals - Conducted from the keyboard Music Director - Taught ages 5-14 proper singing Brecksville Theatre on the technique Square Fall Mini-Camp, 2014- - Accompanied/directed rehearsals 2016 and the production Conductor/Assistant Music - Taught ages 15-50 proper singing Huntington Playhouse Director/Synthesizer technique Catch Me if You Can, - Privately coached lead June-August 2014 actors/actresses - Conducted/played for rehearsals and the production Church Music Director - Accompanied/Led congregation in St. Patrick’s Church, Sunday church services September 2012-Present - Led rehearsals with the Occasional Choir - Rehearsed special music for holiday services - Performed for church special events Private Vocal/Piano Instructor - Taught vocal/piano technique to 2012-Present students of varying ages, genders, and abilities - Accompanied students - Created lesson plans for private students - Helped students build audition books and prep performances Music Director/Vocal Coach - Taught ages 9-18 proper singing Tri-c Summer Theatre Camp technique (Western Campus), - Privately coached lead 2010-Present actors/actresses - Accompanied rehearsals and the production - Directed music rehearsals - Directed pit rehearsals and selected pit musicians - Shows musical directed include: Mulan Jr., Honk! Jr., I Believe in Make Believe, Dragonsong, Guys and Dolls, The Lion King Jr., Once on this Island, Fabulous Fable Factory, Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Cry Wolf, Children of Eden, Aladdin Jr., The Bard on Broadway: A Shakespeare Review Collaborative Pianist - Accompanied students for 2008-Present vocal/instrumental juries - Accompanied students for OMEA - Accompanied opera rehearsals/performances - Accompanied musical theater rehearsals/performances/auditions - Accompanied choral sectionals and rehearsals/performances - Accompanied student vocal performances

Performance (Opera/Musical Theatre) Amahl and the Night Visitors The Mother St. Thomas Episcopal The Phantom of the Opera Christine Daaé Cleveland State University Cavalleria Rusticana Santuzza Cleveland State University La Boheme Chorus Cleveland Opera Theater Guys and Dolls Miss Sarah Brown Tri-C West Cabaret Fraulein Kost/Synthesizer Cleveland State University Funny Girl Emma/Jody/Jenny/Mimsey/Vera/Polly Cassidy Theatre 1776 Martha Jefferson Huntington Playhouse Chicago Go-to-Hell Kitty/Veronica Garfield Hts. Theatre Kiss the Musical Madison Tri-c West Little Mermaid Sea Witch Brecksville Theatre on the Square Jekyll and Hyde Red Rat Dancer/Chorus Garfield Hts. Theatre Suessical the Musical Sour Kangaroo Tri-C West Big the Musical Diane/Chorus The Royalton Players

Performance (Other)

Western Reserve Band Concert Soprano Soloist Pub Bricco Akron Western Reserve Band Concert Soprano Soloist Hudson Gazebo 2018 John Cage “Aria” Soloist Cleveland State University, 2018 Graduate Recital Headliner Cleveland State University, 2018 Haydn “Kyrie” (Lord Nelson) Soprano Soloist Cleveland State University, 2017 Cantor Church Soloist St. Albert Church, 2016-Present Professional Gigs Soloist/Lead Singer/Wedding Singer Various Locations, 2014-Present Senior Recital Headliner Cleveland State University 2016 Firemen Graduation National Anthem Soloist Tri-C West, 2014-2016 Common Concert (Rapper) “Uptown Funk” Soloist Wolstein Center, 2015 CSU Honors Luncheon “Happy” Soloist Cleveland State University, 2015 Presidential Visit (Obama) National Anthem Soloist Tri-C West, 2012 Solo Concert (Kennedy Theatre) Headliner Playhouse Square, 2012 Songbook Unbound Various pieces Soloist Tri-C Metro, 2011 Symphony for the Dance Floor “Some” Soloist Tri-C Metro, 2011

Awards/Recognitions -Nominated as Best Musical Director for the Broadway Awards Regional Competition for Avenue Q and Into the Woods - Selected to be a soloist with the “Western Reserve Community Band” (Defying Gravity, Let it Go, 14G) - Participant in the Daniel Rains Concerto Competition at Cleveland State University 2017 - Manager of the band “Hip to That” who has performed at musical festivals and on PBS 2015-Present - Opened for Grammy/Golden Globe/Oscar winning rapper Common at the Wolstein Center 2015 - Winner of the National Singing Star Competition 2013 - Grand prize winner for Great Lakes Theater Festival’s Romeo and Juliet songwriting competition 2012 - Irene Ryan Scholarship nominee 2012 - Runner-up in Brecksville Entertainer of the Year Contest 2012 and 2014 - Selected by world renowned violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain to record as a soloist for a songbook written by him (Project Gilgamesh through Cuyahoga Community College) 2011 - Performed songbook selections on Crooked River Groove television show 2011 - Selected to perform as a soloist in Daniel Bernard Roumain’s own concert “Symphony for the Dance Floor” 2011 - Parma Area Idol Finalist 2012 - National Shakespeare Competition Semifinalist 2009 and 2010 - Playhouse Square Rising Star competition Semifinalist 2008 and 2009 - Earned 90 point Presidential cup in National Federation of Music Clubs Festival for piano solo and concerto events 1998-2012