MARIO was born and raised in San Diego, where his relationship with music began at age 8, picking out notes on his father’s accordion while his dad worked the bellows. That early, hands-on introduction to music as something shared within family set the tone for how Mario approaches teaching today.

 

He went on to study piano privately for over ten years with Anna Stal in San Diego. Through the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC), Mario completed the Certificate of Merit program and was invited to the state honors recital every year from 1999 to 2009. He also completed the Guild Honors program at the National level nine consecutive years. His competition record includes 1st-place finishes in both the Junior and Senior divisions of the Goodlin Scholarship Competition, as well as wins in the Concerto, Bach, and Sonata competitions. He also performed regularly through the La Jolla Music Society, opening for concert pianists Alpin Hong and Fazıl Say.

 

At age 13, Mario joined the University of San Diego Symphony as a soloist, touring nationally and internationally. That experience led to a music scholarship at USD, where he graduated with a BA in both Music and Sociology. After graduating, he moved into music outreach work with the San Diego Opera and opening up his private piano studio, Music with Mario - until the pandemic redirected him into some new and exciting opportunities for a number of years. 

 

Now joining the San Diego Piano Academy, Mario is returning to what he missed most: teaching, and being close to music regularly. His approach centers on the idea of using music not just to build technical skill, but to foster connection, discipline, and confidence in his students and their families.