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Marija Temo, referred to as a "triple threat" performer, is broadly recognized as a classical / flamenco guitarist, flamenco singer / dancer, and conductor. Her unique specialty is combining all of her talents in a single performance, creating a unique crossover between flamenco and classical music and most recently pop music, which appeals to all audiences.
During 1999 - 2000, Ms. Temo was featured with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in two different series. She presented her own (One Woman Children Series), entitled "Multi-Talented Marija", where she narrated and performed all her talents of flamenco / classical guitar, flamenco singing / dancing, and conducting, including elaborate audience participation, and she appeared on their Baroque Series. (Ms. Temo has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic on four different series in the past two seasons). Contracted by The Baltimore Classical Guitar Society Series for two consecutive seasons, she sold-out their hall and in Seattle, Washington, and Calgary, Canada, she was featured in her own arrangement of de Falla's, "El Amor Brujo" for violin, piano, flamenco guitar, and flamenco song.
For a New York production of Lorca's play, "Blood Wedding", Ms. Temo composed, arranged, and performed the music for the production. She presented a Children's program, entitled "Flamenco Amazement" at Strathmore Arts Music Series in Bethesda, Maryland, and was featured with Teo Morca for the Multi- Cultural Association in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, Virginia. For the seventh consecutive year, she taught for the International Festival Flamenco at the University of New Mexico and has been a lecturer for their Bi-Annual Flamenco History Conference. Concerning Ms. Temo's flamenco and pop crossover, she performed in a Latin Festival in New York, where she was an opening act for "La India". Her most recent awards include a Governor's Citation from the Governor of The State of Maryland in honor of being selected for the 2000 Maryland State Arts Council's Individual Artist Award in Solo Instrumental Performance and an Alumni - Achievement award from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio.
Television and radio critics have lauded Ms. Temo for being "one of the few female solo flamenco guitarists in the world," often refer to her as "Multi -Talented Marija," and state, "Challenging the rules of traditional flamenco." "She continues to break new ground in other ways." "Her intelligence, natural intuitive ability combined with a passion and love of music places her among those exceptional interpreters of our time."
Highlight performances of Ms. Temo include performances for Spanish Ambassador (Don Jaime de Ojeda), the Prince of Spain, Vice President (Al Gore), Mayor (A. Shoji) of Tateyama, Japan, the Russian Ambassador, the Princess of Thailand, the Spanish Consul, and Jose Greco. She has been a featured artist with the Baltimore, Calgary, and Edmonton Symphony Orchestras, The Alberta and Cleveland Ballet, (Lola Greco) the 1997 leading Spanish Classical dancer of the National Ballet of Spain, (Teo Morca) whom she has performed with for over 10 years and was invited to represent the US in the first Flamenco Festival in Tateyama, Japan, Manolo Leiva, Sara de Luis, Juan Serrano, Oscar Lopez, (Paco Pena) where he invited Ms. Temo to accompany him in a television performance, Artistic Director of Ballet Met (David Nixon), Manolo Segura, La Conja, Pedro Cortez, Roberto Castellon, Gloria de Jerez, Chuscales, Omayra Amaya, Joaquin Encinias, Jose Fernandez, and the Carlota Spanish Dance Co.
A sought after teacher, Ms. Temo is a former faculty member of the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, the Preparatory, where she founded the Flamenco Guitar Program. She has been a regular guest teacher for the International Flamenco Festival at The University of New Mexico, where she created a course on the communication and interaction among flamenco guitarists, singers, and dancers. In addition, she is contracted abroad to teach master classes. Ms. Temo received her Masters degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, under Manuel Barrueco, and her Bachelors degree from The Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, under Loris Chobanian. Ms. Temo's mentors in flamenco include: dancer, Teo Morca, and singer, Manolo Leiva.
Master classes with well renowned guitarists include: John Mills, Aaron Shearer, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Eduardo Fernandez, Paco Pena, Pedro Cortez, David Serva, Paco Jarana, Pedro Cuadra, Paco Fernandez, and dancers: Antonio Canales, La Farruca, Manolete, Maria Vivo, Maria Morales, Jose Greco II, Jose Greco, Juana Amaya, and singers: Sebastian Roman and Jose Fernandez, and conductors: Dwight Oltman and Dr. Loris Chobanian.
Ms. Temo's upcoming engagements for the 2001 - 2002 season include: The
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore, Maryland, Hilton Head Orchestra,
South Carolina, a tour with The Florida Orchestra, a premiere of a new
guitar concerto that was written for her with The Baldwin- Wallace College
Conservatory of Music Orchestra, Berea, Ohio, a Children's program, entitled
"Flamenco Amazement", Harmony Hall, Fort Washington, Maryland,
Solo concerts at Music in the Mansion Series, Strathmore Hall, Bethesda,
Maryland, Western Maryland College, Westminster, Maryland, and The International
Flamenco Festival at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.