Maria Isaak, Guest Conductor, received a master’s degree and teacher certification at the New England Conservatory. She earned her Kodály Specialist Certificate at Holy Names College and further studied at the International School for Kodály Studies Summer Program in Hungary. 

Maria directs the New Horizons Band at the Concord Community Music School, and serves as bassoon faculty at Cardigan Mountain School, Saint Paul’s School, and Portsmouth Music and Arts Center. 

As a bassoonist, she has performed with New England orchestras including The Portland Symphony, Portland Ballet Portland Chamber Orchestra, Musicians of Wall Street, Walker Chamber Series, Central Massachusetts Symphony, Bangor Symphony, New Hampshire Philharmonic, Great Waters Music Festival, (Boston Philharmonic,Indian Hill Symphony, Cape Ann Symphony, Nashua Symphony, and Granite State Orchestra. She has been a concerto soloist with orchestras in San Francisco, Chile, and China. Currently, Maria performs regularly with the Avalyn Reed Trio.  Maria makes her home in Durham with her husband Nick, and their various chickens, ducks, cats, dog, and a guard goose.