Ana-Maria Vera

Ana-Maria Vera
Born (1965-04-15) April 15, 1965
Washington, D.C., United States
Occupationpianist
Years active1973–present

Ana-Maria Vera (born 15 April 1965[4] in Washington, D.C.[5]) is an American pianist[9] of Dutch and Bolivian origin. Her father (Mario Vera) was born in La Paz, Bolivia of mixed Spanish and Aymara heritage; her mother (Marianna Woudstra) was born in the Netherlands.[13]

She studied under Leon Fleisher[6] in Baltimore, Maryland.[14] At the age of 8, in 1973, she debuted as a soloist with the U.S. Air Force Symphony Orchestra.[14] At age nine, she performed at the Teatro Municipal in La Paz, Bolivia. At age eleven, she performed at the White House for President Jimmy Carter.[15]

As a recording artist for Philips,[6] she was awarded a Gold Record by the Philips' Dutch subsidiary label Phonogram B.V. for her 1976 LP of the Haydn D Major and Mozart K. 246 concerts performed with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.[16][1][17]

In 1982, the Bolivian postal service issued a stamp in honor of Bolivian youth featuring Ana-Maria Vera.[18]

Together with her brother Armando Vera (a violinist), she is the founder and promoter of Bolivia Clasica, a not-for-profit organization that develops classical musicians in Bolivia.[19] In 2014, Bolivia Clasica sponsored a visit to Bolivia by violin virtuoso and acclaimed conductor Jaime Laredo.[20] Laredo also assisted in conducting orchestral arrangements of pieces by Bolivian composers ("Collita" and "Viva mi patria Bolivia").[21] In addition, Laredo gave master classes to young Bolivian musicians.[22]

Ana-Maria Vera lives in London with her husband and daughter. She is also a seasonal resident of La Paz.

Discography

Solo recordings

  • Mozart & Haydn: Piano Concertos (Philips, c. 1976)
    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major, K. 246
    • Joseph Haydn – Piano Concerto in D major
    • Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edo de Waart
    • Recorded when Vera was 11 years old.
  • Piano Recital (Philips, 1982)
    • Works by Frédéric Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, and Claude Debussy
    • Solo piano recital (LP release)
  • Goyescas – Enrique Granados (Signum Classics, 2009)
    • Granados – Goyescas
    • Solo piano

Chamber music

  • Spanish Landscapes (Universal Music Spain, 2013)
    • With violinist Leticia Moreno
    • Joaquín Turina – Poema de una sanluqueña
    • Manuel de Falla – Siete canciones populares españolas
    • Enrique Granados – Violin Sonata
    • Works by Isaac Albéniz, Pablo de Sarasate, Ernesto Halffter, and Eduard Toldrà

Compilation appearances

  • Vera's recordings have appeared on various classical compilation albums, including collections such as 100 Calm Classical Masterpieces.

Notes

  • Vera's early recordings for Philips were made during her career as a child prodigy and received international recognition.
  • Her later discography emphasizes Spanish repertoire and chamber music collaborations.

References

  1. 1 2 Liner notes:
    Ana-Maria Vera, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Edo de Waart. Mozart – Pianoconcert, K.V. 246 "Lützow" / Haydn – Pianoconcert In D
    Mozart / Haydn - Ana-Maria Vera, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Edo de Waart – Pianoconcert, K.V. 246 "Lützow" / Pianoconcert In D Releases – Discogs
  2. ↑ Time. Time Incorporated. 1977.
  3. ↑ "Music: Classic and Choice | TIME".
  4. ↑ [1][2][3]
  5. 1 2 The New Yorker. F-R Publishing Corporation. 1977.
  6. 1 2 3 Ovation. Ovation Magazine Associates. 1985.
  7. 1 2 The Washingtonian. Washington Magazine. October 1981.
  8. ↑ Nuestro. Nuestro Publications. 1977.
  9. ↑ [6][7][8]
  10. ↑ Sargeant, Winthrop (7 November 1977). "Concert Records". The New Yorker.
  11. ↑ International Documentary: The Newsletter of the International Documentary Association. International Documentary Association. 1994.
  12. ↑ Americas (English Ed.). Division of Cultural Relations, Pan American Union. 1976.
  13. ↑ [7][5][10][11][12]
  14. 1 2 Américas. Unión Panamericana. 1977.
  15. ↑ Domeyko, Cecilia (1982). Portrait of Ana Maria Vera (video). documentary film (television). Virginia: WETA-TV (local PBS in Virginia). Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ Overture: The Magazine of the Baltimore Symphony. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Association. 1981.
  17. ↑ "Ana-Maria Vera, soloist with Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, playing Mozart Piano Concerto KV 246". 1976. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ana Maria Vera, pianist, 1982". colnect.com.
  19. ↑ Dinwoodie, Jenny (April 27, 2014). "Turning up the tempo: Bolivia Clásica School of Music helps young musicians take to the international stage". Bolivian Express. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  20. ↑ Bolivia Clasica (August 15, 2015). "Bach Double Violin Concerto with Jaime Laredo, Albert Garcia and Bolivia Clasica Youth Orchestra". YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  21. ↑ Bolivia Clasica (September 11, 2017). Collita & Viva mi patria Bolivia – arrangements for string orchestra by Agustín Fernández. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Jaime Laredo imparte clase magistral a 5 jovenes violinistas" [Laredo gives master class to 5 young violinists]. Opinion Bolivia (in Spanish). Opinion Bolivia. August 11, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
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