Damaris Short Bio
Damaris Morales
Damaris Morales holds teaching and performance diplomas from the National Conservatory of Music of the Dominican Republic. She continued her studies at the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of Arkady Aronov, before earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Miami with Rosalina Sackstein. Her advanced training includes postgraduate studies in Spain and masterclasses with renowned artists, including Nina Svetlanova and Rosalyn Tureck.
Ms. Morales has extensive experience as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician across the United States and Latin America. She has appeared as a soloist with the Florida Chamber Orchestra, the Henderson Chamber Symphony orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo. She is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician, presenting at numerous Music Teachers Association conventions nationwide.
Ms. Morales is a dedicated advocate for musical preservation and education. For over a decade, she has focused on researching and performing the works of neglected women composers, leading to her creation of the lecture/recital series, Hidden, “The Secret Genius of Women Composers.” She is also the Creator and Executive Producer of “Diapason, sounds of the worlds,” a captivating music history television show. Furthermore, she founded DGEM (Diapason Global Education for Music), an organization committed to preserving folk music and making world-class music education accessible.
Ms. Morales has held piano faculty positions at institutions including the University of Miami, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, the College of Southern Nevada, and the Nevada School of the Arts. As the proprietor of a highly successful Las Vegas piano studio, she has guided students to win numerous local and international piano competitions. Her dedication to leadership in the arts is evident in her roles as Past President of the LVMTA, current President-Elect of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA), and her position as chair of the National Guild of Piano Teachers auditions in Southern Nevada.
Ms. Morales cultivates a studio environment rooted in deep musical growth. Her students regularly earn top honors at local events like the Silver State, Bushell, and Legacy competitions, but their success reaches far beyond Las Vegas.
Her students have appeared on NPR’s “From the Top,” performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and won the Tureck International Bach Competition. Many have gone on to become music majors at prestigious colleges across the U.S. and even in Germany.
Her teaching is backed by a rich musical heritage. Ms. Morales pursued diploma studies at the Manhattan School of Music and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Miami. Her pedagogical lineage connects her students to history’s greats— having studied under pupils of legends such as Alfred Cortot and Claudio Arrau.
Despite her international background, she is deeply committed to serving our local community. She is a Past President of the LVMTA and currently serves as the Presidentelect of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA).
Ms. Morales represents the standard we strive for across the city: degreed, professional artists with decades of experience, all dedicated to helping the next generation of Las Vegas musicians reach their full potential.