Mario is a Costa Rican concert pianist and creative professional whose career spans performance, music education, and brand communications. His relationship with music began at age five, sitting alone at his grandmother’s electric organ in Costa Rica and exploring sound by ear long before he ever took a formal lesson. That early curiosity has shaped everything since.
As a performer, Mario has competed in international piano competitions across the United States, earning 13 awards and appearing on the stages of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Fox Theatre in Spokane. His repertoire spans Baroque through Contemporary, and he has performed in Costa Rica, the United States, Cuba, and Mexico.
Mario has spent over a decade teaching piano to students of all ages, from young beginners through adult learners, in private studios, community music schools, and university classrooms across Costa Rica and the United States. At the University of Idaho and Georgia State University he served as a Graduate Assistant instructor for group and private piano, and he has presented on music education and learning differences at the MTNA National Conference and the Idaho Music Teachers Association Conference.
Alongside his work as a performer and educator, Mario founded MJDC Studio, a creative and marketing agency serving clients in music, hospitality, and the arts. He co-founded El Cuarto, an LGBTQ+ cultural space in San José, Costa Rica, dedicated to supporting local artists and fostering community through live performance and visual art.
Mario is proud to bring his experience in live production, media management, and music education to Rocky Ridge Music Center, an organization whose commitment to community and artistic growth reflects values he has carried throughout his career.