Open to opportunities

Maria Steigerwald

@mariasteigerwald

Message

Versatile mezzo-soprano and administrator blending music leadership with hospitality and community-focused operations.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek roles that combine music leadership and teaching with community-building administration, offering growth, collaboration, and service-focused impact.

I am a versatile mezzo-soprano and administrator with hands-on experience directing sacred and community music, teaching private voice, and coordinating events across educational and parish settings. I combine performance excellence with practical administrative skills, earning awards from the Mead Witter School of Music.

My background includes music directing, pastoral associate duties, private instruction, and freelance music coordination for weddings and liturgy, alongside hospitality roles such as sous-chef and front-of-house service. I’ve led teams, managed schedules, run fundraising calling campaigns, and overseen large-scale food events and ministry planning.

I bring strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills, a pedagogical-anatomical teaching approach, and experience in marketing, event staff management, and community building. I seek roles where I can integrate music, education, and service-oriented administration to strengthen communities and programs.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Wedding Singer & Music Coordinator

Current

Freelance

Jun 2013 - Present (12 years 3 months)

Performed as a wedding vocalist and coordinated musical logistics across Milwaukee, Bay Area, and New York City, managing client bookings and event music planning since 2013.

Event Planning Scheduling Repertoire Selection Music Directing Customer Relations

Pastoral Associate

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish

Nov 2023 - May 2025 (1 year 6 months)

Managed administrative operations, led community-building initiatives, coordinated large-scale food events and ministry planning, and resolved conflicts to support parish programs.

Administration Data Entry Event Planning Community Building Scheduling Conflict Resolution Marketing

Soprano, Section Leader

Archdiocese of San Francisco

Oct 2024 - Apr 2025 (6 months)

Sang with and led the Latin Mass Schola and Archbishop’s Schola under Dr. Jennifer Donelson, supporting liturgical music and ensemble leadership from Oct 2024 to Apr 2025.

Section Leadership Liturgical Music Ensemble Direction

Sacred Music Director

Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center

Sep 2019 - Jul 2023 (3 years 10 months)

Directed sacred music and taught liturgical ensembles at the University of Wisconsin, built community through music, and assisted with hiring and onboarding.

Choral Conducting Teaching Community Building Hiring Onboarding Liturgical Planning

Private Voice Instructor

Self Employed

Sep 2021 - May 2023 (1 year 8 months)

Provided one-on-one vocal instruction using a pedagogical-anatomical approach, improving students' pitch-matching and vocal technique.

Vocal Pedagogy Voice Coaching Lesson planning Performance Coaching Music Theory

Front Desk Associate Volunteer

Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center

Sep 2019 - May 2023 (3 years 8 months)

Provided hospitality, conducted building tours, and managed scheduling while following security and front-desk protocols for the student center.

Hospitality Scheduling Security Protocols Customer Service Facility Tours

High School Music Teacher

St. Ambrose Academy

Sep 2021 - May 2022 (8 months)

Taught general music elective for grades 9–12, delivering curriculum, classroom management, and student musical development during the 2021–2022 academic year.

Curriculum Development Classroom Management Lesson planning

Camp Counselor

Catholic Diocese of Madison

May 2021 - Sep 2021 (4 months)

Led weekly faith-formation talks to 100+ high schoolers and mentored youth in service, leadership, and evangelization during the summer service camp.

Public Speaking Mentoring Leadership Development

Waitress

O'Donoghue's Irish Pub

Jun 2019 - Aug 2021 (2 years 2 months)

Provided front-of-house service, hosting and waitressing to maintain a local pub atmosphere and deliver customer satisfaction from 2019 to 2021.

Customer Service Table Service Hosting Serving Etiquette Teamwork

Phone-a-thon Fundraiser Caller

Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center

Sep 2019 - May 2020 (8 months)

Maintained donor relationships and conducted outreach calls to solicit recurring gifts, consistently exceeding fundraising goals and earning performance bonuses.

Fundraising Cold Calling Communication Relationship Management

Sous-Chef & Baker

Layton Administration - Opus Dei

Dec 2015 - Sep 2019 (3 years 9 months)

Prepared meals and managed baking for a household of seven, coordinated dinner timelines, accommodated dietary restrictions, and trained on service etiquette.

Culinary Preparation Baking Dietary Accommodation Kitchen Management Time Management

Hostess

Zister's

May 2018 - Sep 2018 (4 months)

Managed wait times and maintained restaurant presentation to ensure smooth guest flow and a positive dining experience during the summer of 2018.

Seating Management Customer Service Time Management Communication

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bachelor of Arts, Opera; Communications Sciences and Disorders

2018 - 2022

Activities and societies: Mead Witter School of Music awards recipient; involved in sacred music directing and campus music activities.

Completed a Bachelor of Arts focusing on Opera and Communications Sciences and Disorders with coursework and performance in vocal arts and related communication sciences.