Faculty & Staff

Dr. Mariana Gariazzo earned a Bachelor of Music at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina), a Master of Music from Yale University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. Gariazzo enjoys a growing reputation as an engaging and thought-provoking pedagogue, lecturer and performer. Her research focuses on new music by Latin American composers, and she has served as a guest artist and speaker on the subject at prominent venues and conferences in Europe, Asia, Latin and North America. A recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, Gariazzo has secured multiple grants while on the faculty at Texas A&M University, including the Innovative Pedagogy Grant, Arts Enhancement Grant, Melbern G. Glasscock Center Co-Sponsorship Grant, Academic Innovation Grant, High Impact Innovation Practices Grant, and the Advance Climate Together Grant.

Renowned for her ability to blend artistic vision with organizational strategy, Mariana Gariazzo has built a reputation for transformative leadership guiding arts organizations through growth and innovation. As Program Chair of the 2025 National Flute Association 53rd Annual Convention in Atlanta, she coordinated every aspect of the convention, curating a dynamic and diverse program of over 250 events attended by 3,000 flutists from 37 countries. Her leadership encompassed spearheading the review and selection process of more than 500 proposals, inviting world-class guest artists, securing grant funding to support gala concerts, and overseeing all artistic, logistical, technical and operational details of the convention. She collaborated with staff to design impactful marketing and membership strategies while facilitating effective communication and solution-oriented negotiations with convention-attending academic institutions and corporate organizations.

Previously, as Executive Director of the 2nd International Low Flutes Festival (2021–2022), Gariazzo designed and led a fully online meeting that reached over 200 attendees worldwide. She conceptualized a seamless digital infrastructure for registration and ticketing, implemented international marketing campaigns, curated inclusive programming, and secured sponsorships to ensure the festival’s financial and artistic success. As President of the Chicago Flute Club (2020–2024), she guided the organization through a period of growth, achieving a 30% membership increase while expanding programming and community engagement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she curated and directed a virtual series featuring world-renowned artists, sustaining the organization’s visibility and relevance on a global scale. Gariazzo oversaw governance, finances, donor relations, and fundraising while fostering strong partnerships with board members, sponsors, and volunteers. Across all her leadership positions, she has consistently demonstrated a keen ability to combine visionary programming, strategic planning, and motivational leadership ensuring organizational sustainability, growth, and measurable impact.