Maria A. Ellis

Maria A. Ellis is a renowned music educator, conductor, and radio host, widely recognized for her visionary leadership and transformative impact on music education. She is the Artistic Director for The Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus and the University of Missouri–St. Louis Voices of Jubilation Ensemble, and the founder and CEO of Girl Conductor LLC, a company dedicated to providing inclusive and innovative music education resources for educators and students around the world.

She is the award-winning host of Bach and Beyoncé and American Gospel with Maria A. Ellis on Classic 107.3, The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis. Through her broadcasts, she seamlessly bridges the worlds of classical music, gospel, and contemporary culture—educating, inspiring, and engaging diverse audiences with her deep musical knowledge and signature storytelling.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a vocal emphasis (K–12 certification) from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a Level 3 Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education and a Masters of Arts from Webster University.

Her conducting career includes acclaimed appearances across the United States, leading numerous honor choirs and All-State ensembles, as well as her celebrated conducting debut at Carnegie Hall. Her contributions to the choral field have earned her multiple awards and national recognition for excellence in leadership and musicianship. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, serves on the Chorus America Board, and holds the role of Chair for the Choral Music Council within the National Association for Music Educators.

Beyond her professional achievements, Maria is a proud wife to Marion and the mother of Aria, Kendal, and Noah.