Meet The Royal Violinist

From a young age, music has been a pillar in Mary Louise's life. In 2003, her family moved to Northwest Arkansas, and that year, for her 6th birthday, she recieved a tiny violin with the promise of violin lessons. A few months later, she made her debut at the Arend Arts Center for Kindergarten Graduation.

Mary went on studying violin for over 15 years under numerous commendable teachers. She began her studies at the Institute of Music, Worship, and the Arts with Scott Buss. Once in high school, she studied at the NWA Suzuki School of Music with Christy Wade, and at the University of Arkansas with SoNA's concertmaster Er-Gene Khang, and The Metropolitan Opera's David Malis.

Mary earned 1st chair in voice and 1st stand in violin each year in All-Region and All-State choir and orchestras. Her interests in music especially peaked when performing with others- whether in Chamber Orchestra & Chamber Choir, in the Ozark Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, at Classical Chamber Music Festivals involving accomplished musicians from around the world, or when soloing with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) in 2015.

When graduating in 2016, Mary Louise applied to 2 schools- the University of Arkansas, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance- and received full-ride scholarships to both. She went on to study at the Conservatory with Benny Kim of The Miami String Quartet and with Vincent Cole of The Metropolitan Opera.

While her career in music was blossoming, Mary met her husband, Gabriel, and they welcomed their first child in 2020. Since then, Mary has devoted her life to the beautiful season of motherhood. Now, though still in that season, Mary Louise feels released by The Lord to serve Northwest Arkansas with her musical giftings. In her spare time, Mary enjoys homeschooling her children, tending to her animals, and creating beauty in her home.