Maria Finkelmeier

Maria Finkelmeier is an Associate Professor of Creative Entrepreneurship at Berklee College of Music, where she teaches in the Music Business/Management department. She founded the experimental music, art, and technology studio MF Dynamics in 2020, and her work merges contemporary percussion with new technologies, creating multi-sensory experiences and socially responsive art installations.

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Music (Percussion Performance) from Ohio State University (2007)
  • Master of Music (Percussion Performance) from Eastman School of Music (2009)

Her research and creative practice focus on sonic exploration, public art installations, and digital media integration in music. Projects like “Waking the Monster” (2015), “Hatched: Breaking Through the Silence” (2021), and “Frequencies” (2021) exemplify her narrative-driven, genre-transcending approach. She has also explored AI applications in music, notably in gender bias investigation.

• Scientific & Artistic Awards:
  • Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship (Finalist, 2021)
  • City of Boston Mayor’s Arts and Cultural Fellowship (Finalist, 2019)
  • Brother Thomas Fellowship (2018)
  • Emerging Artist Award from St. Botolph Club Foundation (2015)
  • Nominated as a “Creative Revolutionary” by CODAworx (2021)

As the founder of MF Dynamics, she leads a team of collaborators in designing large-scale performative artworks. Her work has been supported by grants from the Boston Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, and the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. Finkelmeier is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has performed at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall and the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.