Biography

Mariya Mazur Udovenko was born into a musical family in Odessa, Ukraine. Her parents were both professors of music. Father Alfred Mazur taught piano and mother Iryna music theory and composition. Mariya’s perfect pitch and musical talent were recognized early, and she was admitted into the Stolyarski Music School for Gifted Children, from which she graduated with distinction. She attended the Odessa State Nezhdanova Conservatory where she earned a Bachelor of Music and Masters Degrees, each with distinction, in a total of four different musical specialties: Solo Piano Performance, Collaborative Performance (group performance), Piano Accompaniment, and Piano Pedagogy (teaching). A feat accomplished by only 3% of students.

Over the course of her career, Mariya has studied with some of the world’s leading musicians and teachers including Fiolita Richter and Serafima Mogilevskaya, both students of the legendary Henrich Neuhaus ( teacher of Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels). In addition, she has worked with Anatoliy Povzoun ( student of Ludmila Ginsburg and Pavel Serebryakov), and Dmitriy Bashkirov ( student of Alexander Goldenweiser). As a performer, Mariya has had a wide range of experience. She has won a number of piano competitions including The National Competition of Chamber Music in Kiev in 1987, and has given numerous performances in concert halls throughout Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, the United States and Canada.

In 1990 Mariya was invited to serve as the principal accompanist for The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, in Belgrade, where she was recognized as The Outstanding Piano Accompanist in both 1991 and 1992. In 1992 she earned an honorary title “The Artist Emeritus of Serbia” and was appointed the Music Director of Belgrade’s national ballet.

From 1988 to 1990 she was an Assistant Professor of Piano and Opera accompanist at the Odessa state Conservatory.

Mariya enjoys teaching students of all skill levels, from beginners to ARCT candidates, and professional players. For over 30 years, Mariya Udovenko’s students have gained recognition locally and internationally. Many have won prestigious awards at music festivals. Several of her top students have continued their studies in post- secondary institutions in Europe and North America and have gone on to professional careers in music.