Maria Ellis

Maria A. Ellis is a distinguished music educator and conductor, renowned for her expertise and dedication to the advancement of music education. As the owner of Girl Conductor LLC, she provides innovative and diverse music education resources. Maria holds the prestigious roles of Artistic Director for both The Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Voices of Jubilation Ensemble.

Her exceptional skills as a clinician, adjudicator, and presenter are in high demand across the United States and internationally. Maria earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a focus on Voice (K-12 Certified) from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and she holds Level 3 Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from Webster University.

Maria is the acclaimed host of the award-winning radio programs "Bach and Beyoncé" and "American Gospel with Maria A. Ellis" on Classic 107.3, The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis. In 2023, she achieved the remarkable milestone of making her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall and was honored with both The St. Louis Arts and Education 2023 Arts Innovator Award and the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association 2023 Merit Award.  In 2024, Maria was awarded the University of MO- St. Louis Women's Trailblazer Award.

Her professional affiliations are extensive, including active membership in the American Choral Directors Association, serving as Chair for the Choral Music Council within the National Association of Music Educators, and being a member of the Chorus America Board.