Maya Stone is a faith-filled, Black female classical musician, creator, performer, educator, health coach and ZUMBA instructor. Her creative output is filtered through that personal and professional lens. Maya Stone is frequently engaged as a freelance musician around the country. This season, she is happy to have joined the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as the full-time Acting Contrabassoon/Section Bassoon. She recently won the audition for this tenure track position. From September 2023 to December 2025, she joined the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra as the full-time Acting Second Bassoon. She is the tenured Assistant Principal Bassoon with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. And, she has been a member of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra for many years. Maya’s bassoon teachers include Christopher Millard, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Barrick Stees, Frank Wangler, and Ruth Goldstein. She enjoys performing in several capacities, including serving as a member of Nashville alternative classical ensemble, chatterbird. She has also been fortunate to join the new music organizations, Bang On A Can, for performance engagements, and Alarm Will Sound as a substitute. She is heading into her fifth consecutive year serving as faculty at the Bang On A Can Summer Festival, and her third consecutive year serving as Bassoon Faculty at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. In addition to her service at Varna International this summer, she will also be on the woodwind faculty of the PRIZM Festival in Memphis, TN. Dr. Stone is a public speaker and educator. Her voice projects from a personal connection of mental, spiritual, and physical healing and health. These three focal points are all connected and benefit from alignment. Her discourse is filled with experience, persistence, hopefulness, and a desire for growth. Through her development over the years, Maya has cultivated a flexible perspective. This perspective continues to challenge and be challenged by the world we live in. Maya is a Health Coach for Black Women in Classical Music who struggle with overwhelm and anxiety. She helps them manage stress and overcome anxiousness, so they feel good while doing the work they love. Maya is also thrilled to celebrate her second year as a ZUMBA Instructor. Maya loves walking other people’s dogs and dancing out loud. You can find out more about Maya by visiting her social media, Maya Stone Music Studio.