MISTY RIVER'S NEW DIRECTOR, MARIA KOLANO

Maria Kolano has had a life-long love of music. She grew up singing on the piano bench beside her mom. She has taken voice lessons, sung with choirs in school and college, and went on to study music at Northern Illinois University and Illinois State University, receiving a degree in music therapy.

Maria joined Misty River Music Makers and Harmony Inc. in 2006, becoming lead section leader before stepping into the director's position.

In addition to her directing responsibilities, she also enjoys singing lead in the quartet, Piece O' Chord and advancing her musical nerdiness by reading music theory, singing and conducting books for fun.

When she is not at work as the full-time mechanic at Cantigny Park and Gardens in Wheaton, she is at home caring for her daughter, husband and various other household creatures.