High School R&R Chair
Mara Noelle Walker has served as choral director at Arlington High School (MA) since 2019. Now in her thirteenth year of teaching, she began her career as choral director at Freedom High School in North Carolina, where she taught for six years. At Arlington, she directs a vibrant choral program of 200 singers that performs regularly in concerts, festivals, and community events. Her choirs have toured across the United States, Italy, and Switzerland, and have been featured at the Massachusetts State House, Carnegie Hall for the Nationals for Top Choirs Festival, and the 2022 Massachusetts Music Educators Association Conference. Her ensembles consistently receive high ratings at adjudications and showcase high participation at district and All-State festivals.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Mara serves as music director for Arlington High School’s musical productions. She has also directed a community choir, taught vocal technique classes in an Italian arts program, and maintained a private voice studio. Mara adjudicates district festival auditions across Massachusetts and serves as assistant choral manager of MMEA Northeastern Senior District Festival. Mara is also an active soprano soloist and has appeared as a guest soloist with regional orchestras and choral ensembles.
Mara holds a B.M. in Music Education from Lenoir-Rhyne University and a M.M.E from Florida State University, and had the privilege of studying conducting with Dr. André Thomas, Dr. Kevin Fenton, and Dr. Paul D. Weber and music education with Dr. Judy Bowers. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her husband, Preston, and their daughter, Verity.