Vita Maria Ursula (Felber) Weiss was born in Bad Reichenhall, Germany. Maria pursued her Master of Music degree [Magister artium] in music education [Musikerziehung] and in instrumental music education [Instrumentalmusikerziehung] at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg [former: Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst], Austria, graduating summa cum laude [mit ausgezeichnetem Erfolg] in both subjects in 1990. She additionally received a Master's degree in flute pedagogy at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in 1992. In 1997 Maria went to Urbana, Illinois, in order to pursue a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in voice performance with Sarah Arneson at the University of Illinois. After one year Sarah Arneson transferred to Boston University, Massachusetts. Maria Weiss continued her vocal studies first with her and later with William Sharp, completing her doctor of musical arts degree (D.M.A.) in 2005.

For years Maria Weiss has studied different body-mind techniques such as Feldenkrais with Corinna Lanner-Holzhausen, Tai Chi and breath and movement coordination with Susanne Skov. She also attended a workshop for breath coordination according to Carl Stough with Jessica Wolf.

In January 1999, she started to pursue an Alexander teaching certificate. In December 2001 she completed the three-year training course at the Alexander Technique Training Center [ATTC] in Newton, Massachusetts, directed by Ruth Kilroy. She also finished a two-year professional development program at the Rivka Cohen School for the Alexander Technique in Boston, Massachusetts. In April 2002, she received Certification as an Alexander teacher from the American Society for the Alexander Technique [AmSAT]. She also received lessons in the Alexander Technique from Joan Murray, Peter Ribeaux, Beret Arcaya, and Jessica Wolf.

Maria taught music education as a teacher for music classes at the Middle School [Realschule] in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, at the Music High School [Musikgymnasium] in Salzburg, Austria and at the German Saturday School in Boston, Massachusetts. She taught flute, recorder, piano, music theory, ear training, children's choir, and instrumental ensembles in music schools near Salzburg and in Upper Austria. She helped as a committee member to create a new curriculum for flute for the music schools of Austria. In addition, she taught for five years as a teacher of flute, instrumental ensemble, ear training and music theory in summer camps for wind instruments. She taught voice as a teaching assistant at Boston University, Massachusetts. She taught workshops in Alexander Technique at Boston University and Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She currently gives workshops in Alexander Technique and voice for choral societies and music schools.

Maria has sung opera at the Theaterhof near Munich, Germany. She has experience in numerous solo and ensemble concert performances and recitals in voice in Austria, Germany, Italy and the United States of America.

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