CONCERT CHOIR 
COMMUNITY CHORUS

Email : mafarah@ius.edu 
Office: OG 062 
Phone: (812) 941-2025 

Born in Brazil, Mariana Farah received her Bachelor of Music in conducting from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas - SP, as a student of Henrique Gregori. While in her native country, Farah appeared several times as guest conductor of the University Orchestra and of the Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de Campinas. She also worked for the Universidade de São Paulo as the conductor of Grupo Lauda and Canto do Campus. Mariana left Brazil in 2000 and came to the United States to study with Drs. Timothy Stalter and Richard Bloesch at the University of Iowa, where she received her master’s degree in choral conducting. In 2008, she completed her doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City under the supervision of Drs. Scott Anderson and Charles Robinson.

While at UMKC, Farah became the conductor and founder of the Conservatory Women’s Chorus, Bella Voce, performing a variety of literature, including the music of one of Brazil’s most famous composers, Ernani Aguiar. Under Farah’s direction, Bella Voce successfully performed at the 2007 Missouri Music Educators Association Convention in Tan-Tar-A and at the 2008 Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association Convention in Kansas City. During both events, the music of Aguiar was received with great enthusiasm by an audience of choral specialists. The composer became the focus of Farah’s research in 2005 and he has since then helped her collect and study his music. Farah’s dissertation focuses on Aguiar’s a cappella choral works, including his famous setting of Psalm 150. She expects to introduce more of his music in the United States through performances, recordings, editions, and future publications of his unknown choral literature.

In the Fall of 2008, Dr. Farah became the Director of Choral Activities at Indiana University Southeast, where she now leads the Concert Choir and Community Chorus. In addition to her work at IUS, Mariana is a frequent guest clinician for several choral festivals in Brazil and in the U.S., where she is often sought out for her expertise in Brazilian choral music. Most recently, she performed the music of her native land at the Grades 9-10 Northeast District Choral Festival in Moberly, MO, and at the 2009 Annual Choral Festival in Western State College in Gunnison, CO. In the Spring of 2010, Dr. Farah will appear as a guest lecturer and clinician at the Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire and will also host the Southern Indiana Women’s Chorus Festival, introducing more Brazilian music around the United States.

In addition to her work at IUS, Dr. Farah also serves as the R & S Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives for the Indiana Choral Directors Association.