Biography

Marija Temo, described as a "triple threat", is widely recognized as a virtuoso classical/flamenco guitarist, flamenco vocalist and dancer, and conductor. She has come into her own, combining her flamenco and classical abilities, and on many occasions, artfully combines all of her unique talents in performance. She actively performs as a soloist with symphony orchestras, in guitar concert series and festivals, as a flamenco singer/guitar accompanist, and has been featured utilizing her talents in unique types of performance. She has performed for many dignitaries and with highly acclaimed artists, and has also received several awards. In addition to her versatile performance career, she is known for her teaching methods, educational programs, and workshops. Marija Temo plays a "Marija Temo" Model flamenco/classical hybrid TM, which she designed with luthier Tom Rodriguez. Ms. Temo has also received the endorsement of D'Addario Strings.

Ms. Temo is a former faculty member of the Preparatory of the Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University, where she founded the Flamenco Guitar Program. She received her Masters degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, studying under Manuel Barrueco, and her Bachelors degree from the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, studying under Loris Chobanian. Ms Temo has taken master classes from many great flamenco artists, such as Paco Jarana, El Viejin, and Pedro Cortes, but intensive studies with teachers that have had significant influence include: Marta del Cid, Bruce Catalano, Sophie Ginn-Paster, Teo Morca, and Manolo Leiva. For more information, see http://marijatemo.com.

Symphony orchestra highlights include: A most recent premier of "Tango Fantasy", the second work written for Ms. Temo by Loris Chobanian for guitar and orchestra. (A composition that explores the characteristic qualities of Flamenco, the Argentinean Tango, and the Middle East.); Loris Chobanian's "Concierto del Fuego", a guitar concerto written for Ms. Temo in the flamenco style; Lecuona's "Malaguena", which she performed and arranged (for orchestra, flamenco guitar, voice, and dance); "Multi-Talented Marija", a Spanish program that she devised for Children's Series, showcasing all her talents, including conducting, and involving elaborate audience participation; Falla's "El Amor Brujo", which she has frequently performed (as a featured flamenco vocalist and/or dancer); Falla's "Canciones Populares", which she performed and arranged (for orchestra, flamenco guitar, and voice); and several performances of Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez". Ms. Temo has appeared in Pops, Children's, and/or Main Series programs with the Baltimore Symphony (with whom she has been a regular performer for their Youth Series, having appeared in more than 16 concerts), and orchestras such as the Calgary, Edmonton, Florida, Alexandria, Hilton Head, and Ocean City Pops Symphonies.

Solo concert highlights, involving Ms. Temo's programs of classical/flamenco guitar and voice, and sometimes an additional flamenco dancer, have been featured in several guitar festivals and music and guitar series in the US and abroad. These have included: the First World Guitar Congress (where she was also a guest speaker in a symposium with David Russell and Tuck and Patti), Towson, MD; the Blossom Music Festival, Cleveland, OH; LMU Guitar Festival, Los Angeles, CA; the Baltimore, Connecticut, Calgary, St. Louis, and GSFA Classical Guitar Society Series (Pittsburgh, PA); the Theatre at Washington, VA (where she shared the stage with Gene Bertoncini and Frank Vignola), and The Baldwin-Wallace World Music Series , Berea, OH.

Unique performances featuring Ms. Temo include: Featured flamenco guitarist and vocalist in "Man of  La Mancha" with the Annapolis Chorale and Orchestra; (accompanying guest vocalists, Fatinah Tilfah and Shouvik Mondle); an arrangement of The "National Anthem" (for guitar, dilruba, voice, and tabla), which she presented at the Library of Congress for the National Conference on establishing the Sikh collection; "Fuego Iberico", a flamenco musical set in cabaret style and centered around Ms. Temo's talents, in which arrangements of Lecuona's orchestral music are blended with pure flamenco; Falla's "El Amor Brujo", which she performed and arranged (for violin, piano, flamenco guitar and voice); Lorca's "Blood Wedding", a production for which she composed, arranged, and performed the music; a Latin festival, where she performed her flamenco/pop crossover music as opener for La India; "Flamenco and Lorca", a program of poetry with flamenco guitar, voice, and dance accompaniment; Lorca's "Yerma", for which she composed and recorded vocal music; her performances as guest accompanist with the Alberta and Cleveland Ballet Companies; and feature presentations showcasing Ms. Temo's talents on Public TV in Ohio and Maryland.

Special educational programs & workshops:
"Flamenco Amazement" is a program created by Ms. Temo for children and adults in which she demonstrates all her talents and includes active audience participation. It has been presented in venues such as the Backyard Theatre at Strathmore Hall, Bethesda, MD; the Harmony Hall Concert Series, Fort Washington, MD; the Prince George's County Libraries; Westminster College, MD; and in the US and abroad.

"Flamenco Communication" is a class created by Ms. Temo that explores what is required from flamenco guitarists, singers, and dancers to effectively communicate/interact, accompany, compliment, and improvise with one another through a breakdown on the structure of flamenco dance and song forms. It was featured for 10 years in the International Festival Flamenco at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, and reviewed in magazines such as Flamenco USA, Flamenco International (London, England), and Dance Magazine. Marija's method continues to be in demand in the US and abroad.

"Flamenco Completo" - a unique workshop featuring Marija Temo and Ulrika Frank (flamenco dancer), where both have combined their teaching approaches and artistic talents to offer complete workshop experience that unites dancers, guitarists, and singers in the same class. Fall and Spring tours have included cities such as: Miami, Florida; Towson and Takoma Park, Maryland; Long Island, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Washington DC; The Plains and Charlottesville, Virginia; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Bath, Novelty, and Berea, Ohio; and Hendersonville and Asheville, North Carolina.

Ms. Temo continues to offer numerous classical/flamenco-guitar and flamenco-voice master classes as well as private instruction throughout the US and abroad.

Award highlights include: a Citation from the Governor of the State of Maryland in honor of her being selected for the 2000 Maryland State Arts Council's "Individual Artist Award in Solo Instrumental Performance"; an "Alumni - Achievement Award" from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music; an induction into the Revere High School "Hall of Fame", together with a music award named after her and entitled, "The Marija Temo Award".

She has performed for dignitaries such as: the former Spanish Ambassador, Don Jaime de Ojeda; the Crown Prince of Spain; former Vice President Al Gore; the Russian Ambassador to the US; the Princess of Thailand; and eminent dancer Jose Greco.

She has performed with artists such as: Lola and Carmela Greco, Teo Morca (with whom she has worked extensively as his flamenco singer and was invited to represent the US in the first Flamenco Festival in Tateyama, Japan), Manolo Leiva (with whom she has worked extensively as his guitar accompanist), Sara de Luis, Juan Serrano, Paco Pena, La Romera, Oscar Lopez, Antonio Vargas, Manolo Segura, Jose Fernandez, La Conja, Jesus Montoya, and Carlota Santana. Ms. Temo has performed with numerous flamenco dancers and companies, and has accompanied in workshops, artists such as: La Tati and La Farruquita.