Maria Felicita Fichera was born and grew up in Catania, Sicily, where Mount Etna was visible from her house.  In high school, in addition to piano, she studied the classics in Latin and Greek, which may account for her passion for theatre and opera today.

After getting a degree in piano, she received a bachelor’s degree in Musicology and Music Education from the University of Bologna. She then received her master’s degree in Musicology and Contemporary Music from the University of Rome.  In addition, she studied piano with Peter Lang in a summer program in Salzburg, Austria, and has done extensive study on harmony and analysis, and has an article published in the periodical, Musica Docta, in Bologna, Italy.

Before moving to America and becoming a US citizen, Maria Felicita taught piano, music and music appreciation for many years in the Sicily public schools. She also taught ear training and history of music at the Academy of Music in Caltagirone, Sicily

For the past several years, in addition to teaching piano, she has taught Italian at colleges and other venues in the Boston area, the History of Italian Opera at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, and has given lectures on opera to the Italian American Association.

‘I love to share my love for music, and I love to help students develop their skill and technique.  It gives me great pleasure to show how various musical styles and forms can heighten our appreciation and understanding of each individual composer’.