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Maria Finkelmeier is a contemporary classical music composer, percussionist, and educator based in Boston, Massachusetts. She was born on August 22, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a trumpet player. Finkelmeier started playing the piano at the age of four and later picked up the drums and percussion instruments. Finkelmeier attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she studied percussion and composition. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She continued her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she earned a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance. As a percussionist, Finkelmeier has performed with various ensembles and orchestras, including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Boston Pops. She has also collaborated with contemporary music groups such as the Bang on a Can All-Stars and the Silk Road Ensemble. Finkelmeier's compositions are influenced by her background in percussion and her interest in exploring the intersection of music, art, and technology. Her works often incorporate elements of improvisation, multimedia, and audience participation. She has been commissioned to create works for a variety of ensembles, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Percussion Group, and the New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble. One of Finkelmeier's most notable works is "Cycle City," a multimedia piece that explores the relationship between cycling and music. The piece was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 2018 as part of the orchestra's Tanglewood Music Festival. "Cycle City" features a live performance by Finkelmeier on percussion, accompanied by a video projection of cyclists riding through the streets of Boston. The piece also incorporates recordings of bicycle sounds and interviews with cyclists. Another notable work by Finkelmeier is "The Whole World Waits," a percussion quartet that was commissioned by the Boston Percussion Group. The piece was inspired by the idea of waiting and features a variety of percussion instruments, including marimbas, vibraphones, and drums. The piece premiered in 2016 and has since been performed by percussion ensembles around the world. In addition to her work as a composer and performer, Finkelmeier is also an educator. She has taught percussion and composition at various institutions, including the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of Kadence Arts, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that supports contemporary music and art. Finkelmeier's work has been recognized with numerous awards and grants, including a Fulbright Fellowship to study percussion in Brazil and a grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts. She has also been a resident artist at various institutions, including the MacDowell Colony and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. In conclusion, Maria Finkelmeier is a talented and innovative composer, percussionist, and educator who has made significant contributions to the contemporary classical music scene.

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