Dr. Mariana Mihai Zoeter, Music Director

Dr. Mihai-Zoeter stands out as a premiere voice teacher, choir director, and singer. Her musical journeys have taken her around the world to halls in Europe, South America and North America and venues large and small such as the Family Theater at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, The State Symphonic Orchestra at Sala “Sao Paulo”, Amazonas Opera House, The Opera House “Teatro da Paz” in Brazil, the “George Enescu” Philharmonic, and National Operetta “Ion Dacian” in Romania.

As an educator she has held teaching positions at universities in Brazil and the United States as well as teaching privately students of all ages.

A remarkably versatile artist, Mariana sings in many genres of music from renaissance music to lied, from opera to sacred music, from chamber ensemble to contemporary music.

Described by her students and her colleagues as being passionate, supportive, creative, inspired, dedicated, knowledgeable, and an outstanding leader in May of 2016 she won the 2016 Outstanding Faculty Award at the 2015-16 Leadership Awards Reception at Frostburg State University. In 2012, Mariana received a Diploma and Medal of Excellence from her native city of Braila, Romania for artistic and pedagogic contributions to the vocal arts.

As a clinician Dr. Mihai-Zoeter is frequently invited to teach master classes, workshops and summer courses at different high schools, universities, and festivals.

Dr. Mihai-Zoeter graduated from the Bucharest University of Music with a BM in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy, and she received her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Vocal Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory. Dr. Mihai-Zoeter is also a certified voice teacher of the Institute for Contemporary Commercial Music, Vocal Pedagogy Somatic Voicework™, The LoVetri Method. (Musical Theater, Pop, Rock), and in 2014 she received a certification in A Practical Approach to Directing from the Yale University, School of Drama where she worked with Evan Yionoulis.

In addition to her new music teacher and music director position at Holy Cross School and Church, Dr. Mariana is the teaching artist of the Cathedral Choral Society in Washington D.C. She also maintains a private voice studio at Mariana’s Vocal Arts- Sing. Soar. Succeed.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Holy Cross’ Church family! I am looking forward to meeting all the wonderful singers from the adult and children’s choir and together to be able to make a joyful noise unto the Lord! I believe that sung prayer has the power to connect us to God, it elevates our soul and keeps our spirit young.”

For any information about choir rehearsals and any other music related questions please contact Dr. Mariana at: [email protected].