Ana-Maria Vera (born 15 April 1965[4] in Washington, D.C.[5]) is an American pianist[9] of Dutch and Bolivian origin. Her father (Mario Vera) was born in La Paz, Bolivia of mixed Spanish and Aymara heritage; her mother (Marianna Woudstra) was born in the Netherlands.[13]

Ana-Maria Vera
Born (1965-04-15) April 15, 1965 (age 61)
Washington, D.C., United States
Occupationpianist
Years active1973–present

She studied under Leon Fleisher[6] in Baltimore, Maryland.[14] At the age of 8, in 1973, she debuted as a soloist with the U.S. Air Force Symphony Orchestra.[14] At age nine, she performed at the Teatro Municipal in La Paz, Bolivia. At age eleven, she performed at the White House for President Jimmy Carter.[15]

As a recording artist for Philips,[6] she was awarded a Gold Record by the Philips' Dutch subsidiary label Phonogram B.V. for her 1976 LP of the Haydn D Major and Mozart K. 246 concerts performed with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.[16][1][17]

In 1982, the Bolivian postal service issued a stamp in honor of Bolivian youth featuring Ana-Maria Vera.[18]

Together with her brother Armando Vera (a violinist), she is the founder and promoter of Bolivia Clasica, a not-for-profit organization that develops classical musicians in Bolivia.[19] In 2014, Bolivia Clasica sponsored a visit to Bolivia by violin virtuoso and acclaimed conductor Jaime Laredo.[20] Laredo also assisted in conducting orchestral arrangements of pieces by Bolivian composers (Collita and Viva Mi Patria Bolivia)[21] In addition, Laredo gave master classes to young Bolivian musicians.[22]

Ana-Maria Vera lives in London with her husband and daughter. She is also a seasonal resident of La Paz.

Discography

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Solo recordings

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  • Mozart & Haydn: Piano Concertos (Philips, c. 1976)
    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major, K. 246
    • Joseph Haydn – Piano Concerto in D major
    • Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edo de Waart
    • Recorded when Vera was 11 years old.
  • Piano Recital (Philips, 1982)
    • Works by Frédéric Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, and Claude Debussy
    • Solo piano recital (LP release)
  • Goyescas – Enrique Granados (Signum Classics, 2009)
    • Granados – Goyescas
    • Solo piano

Chamber music

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  • Spanish Landscapes (Universal Music Spain, 2013)
    • With violinist Leticia Moreno
    • Joaquín Turina – Poema de una sanluqueña
    • Manuel de Falla – Siete canciones populares españolas
    • Enrique Granados – Violin Sonata
    • Works by Isaac Albéniz, Pablo de Sarasate, Ernesto Halffter, and Eduard Toldrà

Compilation appearances

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  • Vera's recordings have appeared on various classical compilation albums, including

collections such as 100 Calm Classical Masterpieces.

Notes

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  • Vera's early recordings for Philips were made during her career as a child prodigy and

received international recognition.

  • Her later discography emphasizes Spanish repertoire and chamber music collaborations.

References

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  1. 1 2 Liner notes:
    Ana-Maria Vera, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Edo de Waart. Mozart – Pianoconcert, K.V. 246 "Lützow" / Haydn – Pianoconcert In D
    Mozart / Haydn - Ana-Maria Vera, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Edo de Waart – Pianoconcert, K.V. 246 "Lützow" / Pianoconcert In D Releases – Discogs
  2. Time. Time Incorporated. 1977.
  3. "Music: Classic and Choice | TIME".
  4. [1][2][3]
  5. 1 2 The New Yorker. F-R Publishing Corporation. 1977.
  6. 1 2 3 Ovation. Ovation Magazine Associates. 1985.
  7. 1 2 The Washingtonian. Washington Magazine. October 1981.
  8. Nuestro. Nuestro Publications. 1977.
  9. [6][7][8]
  10. Sargeant, Winthrop (7 November 1977). "Concert Records". The New Yorker.
  11. International Documentary: The Newsletter of the International Documentary Association. International Documentary Association. 1994.
  12. Americas (English Ed.). Division of Cultural Relations, Pan American Union. 1976.
  13. [7][5][10][11][12]
  14. 1 2 Américas. Unión Panamericana. 1977.
  15. Domeyko, Cecilia (1982). Portrait of Ana Maria Vera (video). documentary film (television). Virginia: WETA-TV (local PBS in Virginia). Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  16. Overture: The Magazine of the Baltimore Symphony. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Association. 1981.
  17. "Ana-Maria Vera, soloist with Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, playing Mozart Piano Concerto KV 246". 1976. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  18. "Ana Maria Vera, pianist, 1982". colnect.com.
  19. Dinwoodie, Jenny (April 27, 2014). "Turning up the tempo: Bolivia Clásica School of Music helps young musicians take to the international stage". Bolivian Express. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  20. Bolivia Clasica (August 15, 2015). "Bach Double Violin Concerto with Jaime Laredo, Albert Garcia and Bolivia Clasica Youth Orchestra". YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  21. Bolivia Clasica (September 11, 2017). Collita & Viva mi patria Bolivia – arrangements for string orchestra by Agustín Fernández. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  22. "Jaime Laredo imparte clase magistral a 5 jovenes violinistas" [Laredo gives master class to 5 young violinists]. Opinion Bolivia (in Spanish). Opinion Bolivia. August 11, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
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