Maria von Trapp’s family credits her for helping to lead them from Austria to America. Her energy and leadership were as strong as a mountain. She persuaded a concert agent to manage the Trapp Family Singers. They became very popular, often singing more than 100 concerts each year.
During concerts Maria was the spokesperson. She explained the music, speaking very formally. Then, in Denver, a fly buzzed around the stage during a song. Maria took a breath; in flew the fly! She choked and coughed, embarrassed. No longer proper, she explained: “I swallowed a fly.”
Everyone laughed. The concert was not ruined; instead Maria knew the concertgoers wanted her to relax. From then on, Maria told each audience: “You are guests at our musical party.”
Maria’s storytelling led her to write her first book, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. The book was the basis of the musical play, The Sound of Music.
M is for Maria von Trapp, mother, storyteller, and musician.
With her strong determination she told of her family’s tradition.