BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY
Maria Margiolakou is a native Greek coloratura soprano currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Maria began singing from the age of 8 years old, singing with a youth choir in Volos, Greece. By the age of 11, she sang her first solo with a women’s choir: the aria “Vidit Suum” from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. This experience sealed her love for singing and cultivated an intense passion for performing. The foundations of Maria’s musical education were laid at the music middle and high schools in Volos, where she gained valuable experience in styles ranging from classical to contemporary music and from Byzantine chant to traditional Greek music. Her continued voice studies led her to the tutelage of Charoula Glavopoulou in Thessaloniki. While attending the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Maria was offered the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, to study with W. Dwight Coleman. This would lead to 3 further years of Graduate study in the Georgia State University School of Music (Atlanta, Georgia, USA).
At age 19, Maria suffered the loss of her beloved grandmother - a traumatic event which severely affected her ability to sing. In effort to gain back her vocal capacity and confidence, she began working with her voice mentor Charoula Glavopoulou, as well as Alexander Technique teacher Christos Noulis. It was only through hard work, consistent vocal training, and their guidance that Maria gained back her voice fully. This experience helped her to understand the degree of awareness, physicality, and passion that it takes to be an opera singer.
As a freelance opera performer, Maria has found herself particularly drawn to Baroque repertoire. In summer 2023, she began collaborating with the early music group Ensemble OrQuesta (UK), performing Morgana in Handel’s Alcina. This was followed (in 2024) by a London performance of the title role in Handel’s Semele. In addition to operatic work, Maria has frequently been engaged as a soloist in various sacred works, including Vivaldi’s Magnificat, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, John Rutter’s Requiem, and Faure’s Requiem. As a soloist, she has collaborated with the University of Macedonia Symphony Orchestra, the Drama State Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra - under the direction of maestro Michael Palmer.
Maria Margiolakou is a native Greek coloratura soprano currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Maria began singing from the age of 8 years old, singing with a youth choir in Volos, Greece. By the age of 11, she sang her first solo with a women’s choir: the aria “Vidit Suum” from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. This experience sealed her love for singing and cultivated an intense passion for performing. The foundations of Maria’s musical education were laid at the music middle and high schools in Volos, where she gained valuable experience in styles ranging from classical to contemporary music and from Byzantine chant to traditional Greek music. Her continued voice studies led her to the tutelage of Charoula Glavopoulou in Thessaloniki. While attending the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Maria was offered the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, to study with W. Dwight Coleman. This would lead to 3 further years of Graduate study in the Georgia State University School of Music (Atlanta, Georgia, USA).
At age 19, Maria suffered the loss of her beloved grandmother - a traumatic event which severely affected her ability to sing. In effort to gain back her vocal capacity and confidence, she began working with her voice mentor Charoula Glavopoulou, as well as Alexander Technique teacher Christos Noulis. It was only through hard work, consistent vocal training, and their guidance that Maria gained back her voice fully. This experience helped her to understand the degree of awareness, physicality, and passion that it takes to be an opera singer.
As a freelance opera performer, Maria has found herself particularly drawn to Baroque repertoire. In summer 2023, she began collaborating with the early music group Ensemble OrQuesta (UK), performing Morgana in Handel’s Alcina. This was followed (in 2024) by a London performance of the title role in Handel’s Semele. In addition to operatic work, Maria has frequently been engaged as a soloist in various sacred works, including Vivaldi’s Magnificat, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, John Rutter’s Requiem, and Faure’s Requiem. As a soloist, she has collaborated with the University of Macedonia Symphony Orchestra, the Drama State Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra - under the direction of maestro Michael Palmer.
In 2020, Maria was selected as a young artist at the Opera Studio of Connecticut Lyric Opera.
In Connecticut Lyric Opera’s 2021 season, Maria made her professional debut in the role of Musetta in Puccini’s masterpiece La Bohème. Other roles have included Adele (Die Fledermaus - Connecticut Lyric Opera), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice - CLO), Amour (Daphnis et Eglé - CLO), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi - Greve Opera Academy), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro - Greve Opera Academy), and Frasquita (Carmen - Opera Theater of Connecticut). As a student, Maria performed roles such as Lucy (The Telephone), Cercatrice (Suor Angelica), Joan Hall (The Workshop), Cissy (Albert Herring), and originated the role of Robin in the world premiere of Milton Granger’s opera Don’t You Know. Maria’s performing experience - from recital to opera - is wide ranging in style and locale: having performed on stages in the Pacific Northwest, the American South, New England, Florence, London, and Prague.
Maria teaches voice privately, and has previously served on the voice faculty at Auburn University. As an avid practitioner of the Alexander Technique, Maria incorporates FM Alexander’s concepts into her teaching, as well as in her own vocal technique. Maria has participated in various masterclasses with artists such as Stephanie Blythe, Katia Ricciarelli, Cheryl Studer, Alejandra Sandoval and others. Maria has been a frequent participant in summer opera festivals, such as Prague OpernFest (Czech Republic), the Greve Opera Academy (Italy), the Anatolia College Academy, and the Lefkas Opera Academy (Greece). Her accomplishments include being named second prize winner of Arizona Music Competition (2025), winner of Euterpe Music Awards (2024), GSU Honors Competitions and Brumby Competition (2021), and semi-finalist of Music International Grand Prix (2023) and Premiere Opera Foundation (2022). Maria holds a BMus degree in Music from the University of Macedonia (Greece) as well as an MM and Artist Certificate in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University (USA).