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Maria Medina
Performer – Writer – Educator "
Any kind of art form is about creating the kinds of things that you think are beautiful." — Chick Corea.
For Cuban pianist María Medina, this idea captures the heart of her artistry. She sees music not only as performance, but as a way to translate her inner world into sound and share beauty across cultures. Her drive as a musician is fueled by the belief that every note carries the possibility of connection—between traditions, people, and the human experience.
María’s path began in Cuba, where she started piano studies at age seven. She earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music Performance and Education from the Conservatorio de Música Esteban Salas, where she frequently appeared as both soloist and accompanist.
After moving to the U.S. in 2019, she continued her education at the State College of Florida (SCF) under Russian pianist Aza Torshkoeva. Her studies were supported by the Steinway Society of Sarasota Scholarship, the SCF Presidential Jazz Scholarship, and the 2022 FCSAA Student Artist State Competition Award.
During this time, she established herself as both a classical and jazz performer, appearing with the SCF Jazz Band, Presidential Jazz Trio, and as a soloist with the Bradenton Symphony Orchestra in Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals for two pianos.
Now based in Boston, María completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Contemporary Writing and Production at Berklee College of Music, with minors in Film Scoring and Recording and Production. These experiences have led her to participate as an arranger, bandleader, and co-producer for both live events and in the studio, and her creative voice extends into film, advertising, and multimedia. Her artistry is deeply informed by her experience as a young female immigrant, and she is committed to presenting Cuban artistry and heritage in all its dimensions.
She is supported by institutions including Berklee, the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, and the Fine Arts Society of Sarasota. Her versatility as a performer has led to appearances at different venues in the state of Massachussetts such as the Berklee Performance Center in concerts such as the Berklee 2026 Commencement Concert, honoring global stars Jacob Collier, Vinnie Collaiuta, and Jill Scott, the Disney’s 100th Anniversary Showcase, a tribute concert to Keith Jarrett, and the Latin America Vive Festival. She also collaborates with Boston-based jazz and Latin ensembles in the New England area.
Beyond the stage, María has been an active educator through Berklee’s City Music Prep Academy and private piano teaching. From her former studies in Cuba and the US, Maria has been able to design a teaching method that combines a consistent and structured curriculum, characteristic of classical music, with the freedom and exploration that comes from jazz and her Cuban roots.
At every facet of her creativity, María seeks to merge tradition with innovation—embracing her roots while imagining new possibilities for sound and storytelling.