Piano instructorCollaborative pianist

Maurita Eberly Hanford – Bio

Maurita Eberly Hanford is a native of Virginia but spent her first 18 years living in Italy. She began her musical studies at the Conservatorio di Musica Vincenzo Bellini in Palermo, Italy, at the age of ten. It was there that she developed a love for the piano, for performing, and for teaching, and where she became fluent in Italian and established a working knowledge of French.

She later returned to the US and received her Bachelor of Music degree in sacred music/piano at the Moody Bible Institute (Chicago) and a Masters of Music degree in piano performance/accompanying at James Madison University (JMU) Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Maurita loves collaborating with other musicians and has worked extensively as a collaborative artist, playing for student recitals and opera/musical productions at JMU, Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, and the Valley Playhouse. She has accompanied at Harrisonburg High School, Eastern Mennonite High School, and JMU vocal camps.

In 1999 Maurita returned to Palermo, Italy for two years to help develop a school of music among the Italian Mennonite Churches. There she taught piano, music theory, solfege, and she started and directed children’s and adult choirs. During those years in Palermo, Maurita coached vocal students from the Conservatory and at Palermo’s Opera Laboratorio. (All teaching and coaching was in the Italian language). Since then, she has returned to Italy regularly to hold children’s choral workshops.

In July of 2005, Maurita received her Kodaly Level I Certification at JMU and from 2011 to 2016, Maurita accompanied District Choral High School Festivals all over the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

Years 2001-2016 Maurita was the Principal Pianist of the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir (past Artistic Directors Julia J. White and Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy and current Director Janet M. Hostetter). In this work, she had the privilege of accompanying the performance and preparatory choirs in rehearsals and in many local, ACDA, VMEA, and OAKE performances.

She has collaborated with the American Boychoir and The Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet; has played at the White House Christmas Tours, at the Greenbrier Resort, and The Homestead. Maurita has also performed for composers and choral directors such as Paul B. Bouman, Bob Chilcott, and Jean Ashworth Bartle, and has been the featured accompanist on numerous Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir (SVCC) CD productions. A distinct privilege was teaching the SVCC’s Advanced Musicianship Class, where she taught advanced solfege and music theory, and directed SVCC’s a cappella chamber ensemble.

Since 2001, Maurita has developed and expanded her piano studio, focusing on training children and youth from ages 6 to 25. Maurita’s philosophy of teaching includes the following: fostering a love for music; personalizing the lessons to each student’s interests, personality, and learning style; choosing motivational repertoire; developing well-rounded musicians through the study of rhythm, music theory, ear training, music history, and varied musical genres; helping students become confident, expressive, accurate performers; and guiding the development of a safe technique for a lifetime of passionate playing. Maurita has trained piano students of various levels and has had the satisfaction of seeing her students accepted into university music degree programs.

A surprising new passion for Maurita has been learning to play the pedal harp. Taking lessons and learning to play a new instrument as an adult has given her many insights into the pedagogical development of students.

Maurita greatly enjoyed serving on church worship teams in Harrisonburg, VA from 2002-2016.

Maurita treasures the memory of two particular career highlights. She was honored to play the Rachmaninoff Second Piano concerto (mov. I) with the Georgetown University Orchestra in Washington, DC. Then, from a mountaintop overlooking her beloved Shenandoah Valley, Maurita played with the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir on “Oh Shenandoah” for a video commissioned by the National Park Service. See article of mountaintop concert with SVCC.

Maurita now resides in Orange County, CA, with her husband Joseph, where she enjoys teaching and performing.

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