Mara Prausa is an active collaborative pianist, music educator and arts advocate in Central Wisconsin. A product of the UW school system, she received a bachelor’s degree in Music/Piano from UW-Stevens Point and a Master’s of Music in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from UW-Milwaukee. Mara currently serves as the Executive Director for the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, and the 2nd VP for the Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras.

Prior to her appointment with the symphony, Mara was an educator in many different facets of music: Music Appreciation and Class Piano at UW-Stevens Point, private piano and composition at the Wausau Conservatory of Music, World Music at Globe University, and general music at John Muir and Horace Mann Middle Schools.

She highly values music outreach and education programs. She toured inner-city Milwaukee schools with Skylight Opera Company and also traveled throughout the Midwest performing with Opera for the Young. Mara has played for the Milwaukee Ballet Company, numerous choirs, and ensembles and regularly accompanies faculty, student, and guest artist recitals at UW-Stevens Point.

She has held the position of Vice President of Conventions with Wisconsin Music Teacher’s Association and Program Director at the Wausau Conservatory of Music. She currently resides in Schofield, WI with her firefighter husband, Hyden, her daughter and son, Chloe and Chase, and her black lab, Lola.