Maria Ledyaev Hyllested is a jazz and contemporary vocalist and dedicated teaching artist with over 15 years of experience working with students of all ages and levels. Born in Latvia and bilingual in Russian and English, she brings a rich international perspective to her teaching and performance.

Her musical journey has taken her to prestigious programs in the United States, including Berklee College of Music (Boston) and Musicians Institute (Los Angeles). She was twice awarded the Jazz Scholarship at the Jazz Summer Program of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in recognition of her artistry and musical excellence.

After spending a decade teaching and performing in the U.S., Maria developed a teaching approach that blends strong technique with creativity, improvisation, stylistic exploration, and confident stage presence.

She is passionate about helping students unlock their full vocal potential — building healthy technique, expressive freedom, confidence, and a lifelong love of music.