Mara New

Born in Milan, Italy and hailing from the Beltrami House of Fashion that was launched in the early 1900's, Mara's family began as tailors and shoemakers and evolved into clothing designers and manufacturers in the early 1920's. To day the House of Beltrami is still active in Italy. In 2004, Mara's passion for clothes had her start the Golden Needle Awards to recognize and award emerging designers.

Moving from Italy to France, From France to Australia where she graduated in Architecture and Studied Acting at "Karnak Playhouse" in Mossman, Queensland, Australia with Diane Cilento and dance with Roger Hazel, at the American Dance and Musical Theater Academy in Brisbane. Mara Appeared in many live shows and television productions during her stay in Australia.

Moving to Canada to join a new Dance Group and being sidetracked into radio with her own Radio Show, she took a position with MTV (Multicultural Television) in Toronto, and during her stay in Canada, after seeing the Liberace show; she became friends with his protégée Marco Valenti who later became her brother in law. For two years she booked Marco Valenti on several national tours and got the title as "Road Manager" with the Liberace Show.

She is an accomplished Painter having won several European Competitions and she had the privileged to meet Pablo Picasso with her mentor Huala Dio whom she became good friends after she was one of the judges at the Pro Loco Painting Competition.

Mara and her husband are involved in producing CD's for Jazz/Blues Artist Barbara Morrison and recently promoted the "LA Blues Festival" with great success and with the great international recording star Asha Puthli.