Mariliz Romano is a Santa Barbara–born pianist and music educator whose musical journey began early—appearing at age five in a student recital at Abravanel Hall (now Hahn Hall) at the Music Academy of the West through the local Santa Barbara music teachers association. She grew up participating in Bach Festivals and regional competitions and was later awarded the MTAC Young Artist Guild distinction, which included a solo recital at the Lobero Theatre. Her early musical life also included accompanying the Santa Barbara Children’s Theatre, performing as a soloist with the Santa Barbara Symphony, and touring on keyboards with Daniel Lentz’s New Music Ensemble, highlighted by a 1986 performance at Carnegie Recital Hall.
Mariliz earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at UC Santa Barbara with Peter Yazbek and completed a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Washington under Robin McCabe, along with K–12 Music Specialist certification in vocal and elementary music.
She spent more than 20 years in eastern Washington teaching elementary music and middle- and high-school choir and band, leading marimba classes, and maintaining a thriving private piano studio. She also served for a decade as Church Pianist and Music Director at Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church in Seattle, and worked extensively as a collaborative pianist with Seattle-based choirs as well as Santa Barbara’s Adelfos Vocal Ensemble.
A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Mariliz also enjoys improvising, playing electric bass and Celtic harp, and singing and arranging pop songs and jazz standards—often sharing them at private events and gatherings. After 30 years away, she has returned to Santa Barbara, where she teaches private piano and remains active as a collaborative pianist and performer throughout the region.
