Mariel works as a side-woman in New York, playing mostly in jazz big bands and small groups, as well as world and Caribbean music, classical, funk, r&b, Latin music, and wedding bands. She has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Smalls Jazz Club, Carnegie Hall, and Swing 46, among other venues. Mariel has performed alongside Wycliffe Gordon, Brian Lynch, Cyrus Chestnut, Lew Soloff, Jerry Dodgion, and Frank Lacy. In addition to her playing, Mariel is a teaching artist at Upbeat NYC, an El Sistema based non-profit organization in South Bronx that is dedicated to uplifting young people through orchestral music. Mariel is a graduate of the New School College of Performing Arts, School of Jazz (BFA 2015). During her time there, Mariel studied with Elliot Mason, Vincent Gardner, Sam Burtis, Jimmy Owens, Mike LeDonne, Steve Turre, Reggie Workman, and Jane Ira Bloom.