Mariana Farah is the Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Kansas, where she teaches courses in graduate choral literature and conducting, directs the KU Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale, and helps oversee all aspects of the choral program. Born in Brazil, Farah received her Bachelor of Music from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, master’s degree from the University of Iowa, and her DMA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her choirs have performed at the Missouri and Kansas Music Educators Association conventions and at the 2008 and 2018 Southwestern ACDA conferences.
Farah’s research focuses on Brazilian choral music, particularly the a cappella choral works of Ernani Aguiar (b.1950). Her edition of Aguiar’s Três Motetinos No.2 has been published by Earthsongs, and she expects to introduce more of his music to the United States through performances, recordings, editions, and future publications of his unknown choral literature. In addition to her work at KU, Farah maintains an active schedule as a clinician for festivals in Brazil and in the U.S., where she is often sought out for her expertise in Brazilian choral music. She has presented at several conferences for the National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. Recent engagements include appearances as a conductor at the 2018 Southwestern ACDA conference, 2016 and 2014 Kansas Music Educators Association conventions, Universidade de São Paulo-Ribeirão Preto, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Festival de Música de Londrina, Adams State Honor Choir Festival, 2015 Kantorei Summer Choral Institute, a residency with the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, and 2014 Idaho All-State Treble Choir.
Prior to her appointment at KU, Farah served as the director of choral activities at Indiana University Southeast. She is currently the Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence where she directs the Chancel Choir and oversees a thriving music program. She also serves as a Visiting Professor of Choral Conducting at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil, and as President-Elect for the ACDA Southwestern Division. Mariana is a proud national board member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and a singer with the Kansas City Te Deum Chamber Choir.