Alumni Profile:
Maia Friedman

Class of 2005

When Maia Friedman transferred to Oak Grove School in the middle of 10th grade, she was searching for something more than just a new school – she was looking for a place where she could belong. After a challenging semester at a very large public high school in Santa Barbara, Oak Grove offered a dramatic shift: a smaller, creative, and deeply supportive environment where individuality was not only accepted, but celebrated.

Above: Class of 2005

“…it felt like the weirder you were, the better, and everyone was curious.”

“The transition was seamless, and I felt immediately welcomed by my fellow school-mates,” Maia recalls. “Oak Grove was such a contrast to my previous high school experience – it felt like the weirder you were, the better, and everyone was curious. Even though it was small, it nurtured a wide variety of interests. And being surrounded by nature was very grounding.”

Above: Senior India Trip

Maia quickly immersed herself in Oak Grove’s arts program – photography, painting, sewing, ceramics, and music. A winter-term mini project with math teacher David Anter became a turning point. The project focused on songwriting, and Maia wrote and recorded her first two original songs. “That experience planted the seeds of songwriting for me, which became a fundamental part of my life, livelihood and expression” she says. “The encouragement I felt at Oak Grove allowed me to explore the many facets of my identity.”

“The encouragement I felt at Oak Grove allowed me to explore the many facets of my identity.”

After graduating in 2005, Maia went on to study music at Bennington College in Vermont, a small liberal arts school and student-led learning environment that deepened her creative practice. Since then, her musical career has taken her across the globe. She joined and toured with the experimental rock band Dirty Projectors, co-founded the indie trio Coco, and released two solo records under her name; Under The New Light, and Goodbye Long Winter Shadow. “My first solo album lived in a synth-dream-pop world; the second is more thoughtful and intricate, recorded with a string and wind chamber ensemble,” she explains. “The themes [of GLWS] explore the cycle of life and touch on grief, healing, and the full range of the human experience. I put a lot of intention into every element – chordal harmony, melody, and lyrics especially. It’s a piece of work I feel very proud of.”

Now based in upstate New York, Maia continues to make music, balancing teaching, writing, recording, and touring with her new role as a mother. “It’s not easy finding balance between these two worlds,” she admits. “My daughter toured with me from when she was 5 months old, and she’s nearly two now. But it’s a path I love. I’m thankful for the opportunities that continue to present themselves to me, and that this path wound its way through Oak Grove.”

Learn more about Maia and her music at maiafriedman.com »

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